Mhlalingaphambili, andizi kuchitha ixesha lam ngokuphendula ubuvuvu obuthethekayo apha. La magwala bendithetha ngawo, ngala magwala ungasokuze uweve ethetha ekomitin i yemicimbi yesebe. Abanye babo bendingabazi nokuba bangamalungu alaa komiti. Bendiqala ukubabona namhlanje. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Mrs M M SOTYU: Chairperson, I am not going to waste my time on the nonsense that is being spoken here. The cowards I am referring to are those who do not say a word in the portfolio committee meetings. I did not even have an idea that some of them are members of that committee. This is the first time I see them today.]
I won't waste my energy by responding to some of those things. However, I would like to say that the ANC supports this Budget Vote, and anyone who challenges our democratic freedom by engaging in or encouraging criminal activities can pack up and go. [Interjections.] With regard to the ACDP and the FD, we will pray for them along the way. If they happen to miss home, they can pray their way back home, but they will find us fighting crime in South Africa.
Fighting crime in an effective manner is a priority of this ANC-led government. This is reflected by the huge budget increase for Safety and Security. Voting against this budget without providing an alternative to the crime-fighting strategy implemented by SAPS is both irresponsible and opportunistic. That's the DA.
The DA is failing in its duty, not only as an opposition party but, more importantly, as public representatives of the people who voted for them. They have thrown their votes away, anyway. To criticise without providing alternatives is cosmetic, opportunistic and reflects the approach of a policy-challenged political party.
The ANC, together with the majority of peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of South Africa, fights the minority who try to challenge our democratic freedom by engaging in criminal activities. To those parties like the FD and FF, I haven't even heard of those ...