Chairperson, of course, as the ANC, with our historic mission of creating a society that is united, democratic and nonsexist, we have identified housing as one of the critical instruments that will ensure that such a society is a society in which our people will benefit. During the Budget Vote debate, as the ANC, we unreservedly supported the Budget Vote, precisely because of the issues that were raised and that the department has committed itself to.
One of the critical things that the department raised in relation to the very same questions that the IFP passed, was the 3% of the equitable share that provinces would be required to use, in order to deal with the projects with regard to housing. That is a matter that the department has reflected on in its strategic plan over this financial year.
The second aspect that comes out as important - and which the IFP has to deal with - is that the department has said that there are systems in place to deal with elements of corruption within the department. There are systems, there are people who have been arrested and there are people who will be brought before a court of law, especially those that have been given money to build houses that are nowhere to be seen. On the basis of that we, as the ANC, find the allegations - if there are any - to be quite unfounded and wasteful. We support the Budget Vote.
Vote agreed to.
Vote No 29 - Land Affairs - put and agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 30 - Minerals and Energy - put.
Declarations of vote: