Chairperson, colleagues and compatriots, proud of our past, confident of the future, together we can do more. This is the unequivocal, unwavering and most credible and dependable message of the ANC.
The ANC towers above all others during this critical time as we all go to the polls to decide on the future of our country because of these principles and commitments.
Yes, indeed, we inherited a country in deep trouble back in 1994 when the ANC-led government took over power under the baton of the one and only uTata Madiba. And like a sinking ship, we steered it back to safety, away from the turbulent waves and heavy storms of the rough seas.
The ANC pulled the country out of political and economic isolation and restored it to its rightful place in the galaxy of nations that are charting the way forward in finding new and innovative solutions to global, political, social and economic challenges of the day.
In his address on his release from prison on 11 February 1990 entitled, "We have waited too long for our freedom", President Nelson Mandela expressed his full confidence in the ANC when he said, and I quote:
I salute the African National Congress, it has fulfilled our every expectation in its role as leader of the great march to freedom.
It was heartening to witness the same expression of confidence in the ANC under its current leadership this past weekend, again by uTata Madiba, as he affirmed his continued commitment and loyalty to the movement by sharing a podium with our President, Jacob Zuma. [Applause.]
Yes, the ANC has succeeded in transforming our society to ensure equal rights and dignity for all, and the right for everyone to have a say through the ballot on who should govern them and to live where they choose, to work for a decent wage under decent working conditions, to pursue their career of choice, to participate in whatever lawful economic activity of their choice and even to marry whomsoever they fall in love with regardless of the colour of their skin.
But the ANC did not end there. Inspired by the Freedom Charter, the ANC has ensured the progressive realisation of the right to full social and economic inclusion for all by improving access to health care, education, housing, clean and drinkable water, sanitation, electricity, decent roads and affordable transport.
For the millions who cannot provide for themselves, a range of social grants catering for poor and vulnerable children, older persons and persons with disabilities are being provided, all because the ANC leads, the ANC cares.
Yes, the Secretary-General of the ANC, Comrade Gwede Mantashe, said we are learning as we go along. Our policies have not always been met with the requisite zeal and commitment when it comes to implementation.
Crime and corruption have undermined the pace at which we have been able to deliver on our promises, and hence we have identified the need to strengthen our monitoring and evaluation mechanism, including the oversight role we have to play as parliamentarians.
This point has been especially emphasised by our president, Comrade Jacob Zuma. Some of these measures have begun to be put in place or have already been implemented.
Indeed, life has changed or is changing for the better for many amongst our people. As I stated from the outset, the ANC acknowledges that together, as the bona fide citizens of this country, we can do more.
Children must go to school and learn. Parents must groom and nurture their children to become decent and productive citizens. Teachers and managers of our school system must ensure that our learners receive quality education.
As a caring nation, let's offer a helping hand by fostering and adopting abandoned, orphaned, abused and other vulnerable children in need of care and protection.
We should assist the state in ensuring that no children wander around during school time instead of being at school and learning. We should report instances of abuse and must call for help when children are found indulging in substance abuse or other unlawful social conduct.
Because unless we take it upon ourselves to build and rebuild this country, there will be nothing left for the very same children to inherit. The ANC- led government has introduced new comprehensive legislation for the care and protection of children in the form of the Children's Act 2005, as amended.
We introduced new legislation to promote the care and protection of the elderly, which will be coming into operation soon this year. There is also legislation to fight substance abuse, namely the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Bill passed by this Parliament in November last year.
We have improved the quality of service with the provision of the extended access to social grants. Today we take pride in the fact that our grant system caters for over 12 million children, older persons and people living with disability, as compared to the 3 million that received these grants when we took over government in 1994. We have at the same time significantly improved the value of the grant.
The means test for accessing the grant has been raised following the implementation of the new regulations last year, and we have gradually begun to reduce the age of qualification for the grant for men from 65 down to 60, to ensure equality between men and women. We are steadily raising the age limit of the child support grant from the current 14 years to 15 years this year and eventually to 18 years, as envisaged under our Constitution as the age at which a person ceases to be a child. We do so in order to honour a commitment the ANC made at its last national conference, in Polokwane in December 2007.
Perhaps at this juncture I should pause to reflect on the often-mentioned concern that the grant system creates a dependency syndrome. I wish to start by urging all of us, when reflecting on this important issue, to exercise some empathy, consideration and caution; for at some or other stage of our lives we have all been vulnerable and dependent on someone else for our very survival, protection and care - right from birth up to a stage in our lives when we could manage on our own.
Yes, we should keep a watchful eye to avoid perpetuating certain social practices and tendencies that could promote dependency instead of promoting a culture of work. As a disability rights movement, for example, we have always advocated for the right to equal opportunities to ensure that people living with disabilities access education and training, health care and other social conditions necessary for them to participate optimally within society.
We have strived towards ensuring that people living with disabilities obtain decent work and participate fully in the economic and social life of society, and that social security should not be used as an excuse for social exclusion and perpetuating dependency. The fact of the matter is that if we are truly a caring society, we cannot look away when those who are less fortunate than ourselves go hungry and are exposed, without shelter or appropriate clothing to keep them safe and warm, to the cold nights of winter or the heavy rains of summer whilst we ourselves are tucked up in warm blankets in front of our huge television screens, secure in the comfort of our luxurious homes.
The ANC seeks to ensure that eventually all the basic necessities of life can be afforded or at least accessed by all, and not only by the more fortunate within our society.
It is for this reason that we, as the ANC, have committed ourselves to pushing back the frontiers of poverty. We intend to do so to bring development to the rural and urban poor alike, ensuring that the benefits of growth in our economy are shared by all and not only some, and that those who have not benefited from or accessed these new opportunities are assisted in various ways to gain access whilst their basic needs are met. Thank you very much. The ANC supports this Budget. [Time expired.]