Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Your Excellency hon Deputy President, hon members, I rise to confirm that the ANC supports the Appropriation Bill, and I do so focusing on infrastructure.
The massive infrastructure build programme that was announced by the President of the Republic during the Fourth Parliament was in recognition of there being a need to inject capital investment into the economy to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in the face of the recent global economic crisis. Equally and more importantly, the ANC-led government was responding to decades of underinvestment by the apartheid regime in the country's social and economic infrastructure.
More than Rl trillion has already been invested in social and economic infrastructure, such as human settlements, water, electricity, schools, higher education institutions, clinics, roads, rail, ports and energy. A further R847 billion will be spent during the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. It is estimated that over the next 15 years investment in infrastructure will cost about R4 trillion. We pay particular attention to this huge infrastructure build programme because, as we appropriate funds for its implementation, we seek to achieve the outcomes as articulated in the Strategy and Tactics of the ANC, the ANC 53rd National Conference resolutions and the election manifesto of the ANC. These outcomes are: The radical transformation of our economy as part of the agenda of the second phase of the national democratic revolution; secondly, an integrated social and economic infrastructure; the creation of decent and sustainable jobs - in this regard, the ANC manifesto says that job creation is the priority of the infrastructure programme. In concrete terms it says that more than 250 000 jobs will be sustained through the construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure and manufacture of local components. Of even greater significance, the ANC manifesto says that 60% of jobs shall be set aside for youth employment and empowerment in infrastructure and other projects.
Another outcome is the facilitation of movement of people across the country and transportation of goods and services to domestic and export markets. Also a very important outcome is the facilitation of regional and continental economic and trade integration.
The ultimate prize must be the attainment of a better life for all our people. Having allocated funds to all the departments and public entities, the ANC seeks to ensure that the appropriated funds are spent efficiently, clear of maladministration, wastage, fraud and corruption. The visible outcomes must demonstrate a better life for all our people. Only then shall we achieve full reconciliation, social cohesion, a prosperous society and peace among our people. The ANC supports this budget. Thank you. [Applause.]