Madam Deputy Speaker, with my limited time let me simply remark that the language used by the Minister in his Budget Speech makes one feel as if one is licking ice cream. It is persuasive, but upon closer scrutiny the ice cream tastes bitter.
It is well and good for the Minister to come round to the PAC's long-held position that the market cannot be left unregulated. The Minister, however, needs to go further and be bold enough to offer an alternative.
In 1993 the poorest 10% of the population had 0,6% of the total income while the richest 10% accounted for 72,5% respectively. The Gini coefficient in official statistics remains high by international standards. Where are the jobs and opportunities for the poor? They fall far short of the target of halving joblessness by 2014. There is no indication that 500 000 jobs will be created per year during this period of economic crisis without state intervention.
The PAC welcomes the change of heart on the part of the Minister. For years he has held that governments do not create jobs. Now he recognises that government has a direct role to play in employment creation through public employment programmes. The plans are yet to be unveiled. However, the PAC proposes that when this is done they should focus on youth unemployment. There must be a radical alternative to Gear.
The PAC welcomes the National Treasury honouring its commitment to increase government expenditure as targeted by 9,1% between 2009 and 2012, even if this means going into a deficit. Does this approach constitute a long-term strategy to protect social spending over the next generation? What will happen if the Minister's growth projections are not met?
It is time that the emergence of rural development becomes a priority. This is where the poorest live and where there is an unacceptable pace of development. This has not happened in previous Budgets.
The Minister's 2009 Budget is a significant move. The agrarian reform must be the key strategy. The allocation of R1,8 billion is, however, peanuts. The rural areas urgently need to rebuild small-scale agriculture. This requires addressing the economic concentration of multinational companies to provide access to markets [Interjections.] [Time expired.]