Chairperson, section 213(2) of the Constitution provides that money may be withdrawn and, per implication, be moved within Votes if an appropriation Act is passed by Parliament, and that it be subjected to the conditions of the Public Finance Management Act. Section 30(2) of the Public Finance Management Act states that adjustment budgets may provide for the following: unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditure recommended by a committee of Cabinet; any expenditure in terms of section 16 - for example, the R1,3 billion for the Road Accident Fund, RAF; money to be appropriated for expenditure already announced by the Minister during the tabling of the annual Budget - for instance, the Eskom loan; and the roll-over of unspent funds from preceding financial years.
It is essential that the main Budget and these adjusted estimates support the sound fiscal stance we require to weather ourselves against the global financial storms. We want to applaud the Minister and the National Treasury for not bowing before the Luthuli House powers as yet. We are convinced that if the reported outcomes of the ANC summit are implemented, they will certainly jeopardise our global credibility and damage our monetary regime and the performance of our banking system.
Voorsitter, van hierdie hersiene uitgawes vir 2008-09 is geregverdig, hoewel dit kommerwekkend is dat die toegewysde fondse nie bestee kan word nie as gevolg van, onder andere, swak beplanning, swak vaardighede en swak bestuur. Sulke optrede sal nie help om ons ekonomie op dreef te bring nie. Ons vertrou dat empatie ook teenoor verbruikers getoon sal word, wie ook swaar kry.
Verblydend is die toewysings, onder andere, aan die volgende: gesondheids- en geletterheidsprogramme; skoolvoedingskemas; hoewel ons weet dat dit nie die probleem gaan oplos nie; en sosiale- en maatskaplike verligtingsmaatrels. Hoewel die R20 verhoging te min is, help dit vir seker om die effek van inflasie aan te spreek. Provinsiale en plaaslike regerings kry toewysings wat hopelik dienslewering sal verbeter en natuurlik sal bydra tot ramp- en ander noodverligtingsfondse wat ook noodsaaklik is.
Hoewel die R1,4 miljard vir die 2010 Fifa stadions nie onverwags is nie, is dit nou ekonomies noodsaaklik dat hierdie toernooi suksesvol sal verloop, want binne die huidige wreldekonomie sal die alternatief 'n ekonomiese ramp vir Suid-Afrika wees. Ons moet almal saamwerk om dit 'n sukses te maak. Kommerwekkend is egter weereens die toewysing aan die Padongelukkefonds, wat geld in 'n bodemlose put bleik te wees. 'n Alternatief vir die befondsing hiervan, moet gesoek word.
Die tweede gedeelte van die Denel Saab-waarborgooreenkoms en spesifiek hoeveel nog uitstaande is en wanneer hierdie tot 'n einde gaan kom, is kommerwekkend. Ons is baie bekommerd oor dit en die effek op ons ekonomie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, some of these revised expenditures for 2008-09 are reasonable, although it is disconcerting that the allocated funds could not be spent as a result of, inter alia, poor planning, poor skills and poor management. Such actions will not help our economy find its feet. We trust that empathy would also be shown towards consumers who are also struggling.
The allocations are heartening, among others, to the following: health and literacy programmes; school feeding schemes, although we know that this is not going to solve the problem; and social welfare relief measures. While the R20 increase is not sufficient, it would certainly help to address the effect of inflation. Provincial and local governments are receiving allocations that would hopefully improve service delivery and, of course, would contribute to disaster and other emergency relief funds, which are also essential.
While the R1,4 billion for the 2010 Fifa stadiums are to be expected, it is now of economic importance that this event must be a success, because the alternative would prove an economic disaster for South Africa in the current world economy. We must all work together to make this a success. However, a concern is once again the allocation to the Road Accident Fund which seems to be money thrown down a bottomless well. An alternative must be found.
The second part of the Denel Saab guarantee agreement and specifically how much is still outstanding and when this would be paid is also a concern. We are very concerned about this and its effect on our economy.] Another concern is the obvious lack of capacity and skills within departments to manage and spend their budgets effectively, as well as the lack of focus to spend on essential service deliverables and not to stock the gravy train. It is a concern that not enough is done to empower the private sector to grow the economy and drive employment exponentially.
We need effective political accountability for what is happening in so many departments and trust that Parliament will indeed see to this in the years to come. It is in the best interest of our nation that we pass this Bill despite the many concerns and possible flaws.
Die DA ondersteun die wetsontwerp. Ek dank u. [Applous.] [The DA supports the Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]]