Hon House Chair, the continued demand by the opposition for a Portfolio Committee on The Presidency has been proven up to now to be a pedestrian request or demand, because all the institutions linked to that Office up to now have proven to be very effective. Even the Auditor-General, up to this point, has never proven any misdemeanours in that Office, and the money allocated and appropriated for that Office has been used effectively for the advancement of the Republic and the protection of our Constitution. [Applause.]
We, therefore, as the ANC, believe that it is completely unnecessary for this demand and it must stop this year so that we can continue to do our work unhindered. [Interjections.] The National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, the women, the National Development Plan, NDP, and Statistics SA, have an oversight structure here. They all have oversight institutions in this Parliament. There is absolutely no reason why we should continue in this vein.
The ANC supports the budget of The Presidency and believes that the President is taking South Africa forward. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, African Christian Democratic Party and Economic Freedom Fighters dissenting).
Vote No 2 - Parliament - put.
Declarations of vote: