Chairperson, the main increases for the Department of Labour are related to transfers to the Sheltered Employment Factories, SEF, Setas and the National Skills Fund. However, this department received a qualified report from the Auditor-General for the fourth consecutive year.
The SEF incurred irregular expenditure with cheques fraudulently cashed. The National Skills Fund, specifically, also received a qualified audit report. Now, the question is: How does the Minister justify allocating more public money to a department, specifically to sections within a department, that have clearly demonstrated they cannot spend the money appropriately.
UMPHATHISWA WEZEMISEBENZI: Ndiyayithanda indlela abuza ngayo. Ukuba abuze ... how do I justify? Ndiyabulela ukuba ubuze ngolo hlobo. Ngelishwa-ke mama, kwi Sheltered Employment ngabantu abakhubazekileyo, kuyanyanzeleka ke okokuba abantu abakhubazekileyo bahlale beqeqeshwa. Into yokokuba kubhenguze abantu abaphetheyo ayithethi ukuthi abantu abakhubazekileyo mabasokole. Okwesibini, uqeqesho lwabantu yenye yezinto ezingundoqo kakhulu. Amanyathelo anokuthi athatyathwe ngee managers ezingakwazi ukugcina imali, ayithethi ukuthi uqeqesho malume kwiRiphabhliki yoMzansi Afrika. Ngoko ke, isilungu esi usithethileyo sihle sona; sinike imali Mphathiswa wezeZimali siqhubekeke siqeqeshe abantu kuba igunya lokugxotha umntu ongakwazi ukuphatha kakuhle imali, sikwanalo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.) [The MINISTER OF LABOUR: I like the way she phrased the question. To ask ... how do I justify? Thank you for asking like that. Unfortunately, Madam, the Sheltered Employment Factories constitutes disabled people and it is a must that they be provided with continuous training. Disabled people should not be disadvantaged because of incompetent managers. Secondly, the training of personnel is one of the main priorities. Measures of dealing with managers who are not competent in handling finances does not imply that training has to come to a standstill in the Republic of South Africa. I commend the way you have articulated your message; therefore, Mr Minister of Finance, give us money so that we continue with the training of personnel because we also do have the powers to dismiss those who are financially incompetent. [Applause.]]