Madam Speaker, hon Farrow, we don't claim to have the support of the overwhelming majority of the poor and the working class in South Africa, we do have that support! [Interjections.]
This budget reflects a welcome increase allocated to transport. If you go back three years and then go forward three years to the outer years of this MTEF, you will find that the transport budget has virtually doubled over this six-year period. That is very welcome. It increases by some 18,1% on average per year.
Included in these increases are a significant spend of some R1,6 billion for passenger rail infrastructure over the MTEF period and also a very significant spend on national roads, some R3,5 billion by the outer years of this MTEF.
There is, of course, the small matter of the Gautrain's R7,2 billion allocated over the same MTEF period. As you know, we can't amend money Bills yet in Parliament. Minister of Finance, we have no intention of increasing the budget allocated to transport but we might want to consider looking at how much is being spent on some items. We can't amend it, but we certainly do commit ourselves to monitoring very closely the allocation to the Gautrain.
Budgets are not just about statistics and money, there are also commitments and responsibilities. The other members have correctly raised the huge challenges that the department, the agencies that fall under the department and indeed the portfolio committee here in Parliament have in regard to particularly public transport, which is in a dire state. I think we all accept a huge responsibility for that and indeed also for the very high levels of fatalities and injuries on our roads. This budget provides us with a platform to address those.
It's our job as the ANC, and indeed that of all other parties here in Parliament, to make sure that we use this money wisely and effectively. The ANC obviously supports this budget. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 34 - Water Affairs and Forestry - put and agreed to.
Schedule agreed to.