Agb mevrou die Voorsitter, die agb Minister van Finansies verdien 'n pluimpie vir weer eens 'n goeie begroting. Die kroonjuweel in die agb minister Manuel se kroon is die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens wat 'n oorskot van meer as R40 miljard daargestel het, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die oorverhaling van inkomstebelasting en die surplus op belasting op toegevoegde waarde. Wat 'n voorreg om te beplan en te begroot met so 'n geweldige voorsprong, terwyl die begrote tekort van die vorige jaar feitlik uitgewis is deur onderbesteding. Die Minister se grootste probleem is onskynlik wat om met al die surplusgeld in sy koffers te doen.
Die IVP is 'n sterk ondersteuner van effektiwiteit en finansile dissipline, en veral dat klem gel word op ekonomiese groei. Groter of versnelde ekonomiese groei lei tot groter maatskappywinste en kapitale uitbreidings, wat op hul beurt meer inkomstebelasting vir die staat beteken n, veral kumulatief, meer belasting op toegevoegde waarde. Wanneer die staat dan sy surplus en lenings terugploeg in massiewe kapitaalprojekte, soos met die miljarde aan Transnet en Eskom, is die tafel gedek vir verdere ekonomiese groei waarbinne die sogenaamde "multiplier effect" [vermenigvuldigereffek] definitief gaan inskop. Die vermenigvuldigereffek beteken dat die oorspronklike kapitaalbesteding tot tienvoudig gehersirkuleer kan word en 'n ware inspuiting vir die ekonomie en werkverskaffing kan beteken.
Die IVP het gepleit vir die afskaffing van belasting op pensioenfondse en die Minister het ons halfpad ontmoet. Ons vertrou dat dit vir die Minister moontlik sal wees om volgende jaar met die oorblywende 9% belasting op pensioenfondse weg te doen.
Ons is verder ten gunste van die geleidelike infasering van 'n basiese inkomstetoelaag in ooreenstemming met die Taylor-verslag en daarom het ons vrouegroepe ondersteun wat gepleit het om die verhoging in die ouderdomsperk tot 18-jariges vir die kindertoelaag. Dink net daaraan, dan word daardie meisies wat op skool bly en presteer ook beloon pleks van diegene wat babas kry voor hul agtiende verjaarsdag.
Soortgelyk kan die middeletoets aangepas en mettertyd afgeskaf word met betrekking tot ouderdomspensioene van ons senior burgers. Op hierdie wyse kan die basiese inkomstetoelaag geleidelik ingestel word, sonder om die stelsel oornag ryp te druk. Volgende jaar is nog 'n jaar en, wie weet, miskien kan die Minister soos in die verlede met die amnestiewetgewing met Inkatha saamwerk, of ons raad aanvaar. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr H J BEKKER: Hon Madam Chairperson, the hon Minister of Finance once again deserves to be complimented for an excellent budget. The crown jewel in the hon Minister Manuel's crown is the South African Revenue Service that accomplished a surplus of more than R40 billion largely as a result of the over recovery of income tax and the surplus of taxation on value-added tax. What a privilege to be able to plan and budget with such a great advantage, while the budgeted shortcoming of last year has practically been wiped out as a result of underspending. The Minister's biggest problem is apparently what to do with the surplus money in his coffers. The IFP is a strong supporter of efficiency and financial discipline, and in particular that emphasis be placed on economic growth. Greater or accelerated economic growth leads to greater company profits and capital expansion, which again lead to more income tax for the state, and especially accumatively, more value-added tax. When the state then reinvests its surplus and loans into massive capital projects, such as the billions to Transnet and Telkom, the table is set for further economic growth in which the so-called "multiplier effect" will definitely kick in. The multiplier effect means that the original capital expenditure can be recirculated tenfold and can be a real injection for the economy and employment opportunities.
The IFP pleaded for the abolition of taxation on pension funds and the Minister met us halfway. We trust that it will be possible for the Minister to do away with the remaining 9% on pension funds in the next year.
We are furthermore in favour of the gradual phasing-in of a basic income allowance in accordance with the Taylor report and therefore we supported women groups who pleaded for an increase in the age limit to include 18- year-olds for the children's grant. Just think about it, then those girls who stay at school and perform are also rewarded instead of those who have babies before their eighteenth birthday.
Similarly the resources test can be modified and later abolished with regard to old age pensions for our senior citizens. In this manner the basic income grant can be introduced slowly, without having to force the system to ripen overnight. Next year is another year and, who knows, the Minister could perhaps, as he did in the past with the amnesty legislation, collaborate with Inkatha or accept our advice.]
For several years the IFP has highlighted the importance of Richards Bay and that it could become the gateway to Africa whilst opening up the slumbering provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo via the underutilised rail track from Richards Bay to the Mpumalanga coalfields. Government has now bought into the idea and we thank them.
For industrial development and cheaper electricity there are no better regions than Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal, which are both also in close proximity to Cahora Bassa. Cross-boundary negotiations have been opened by the government and I can even foresee gas and oil pipelines connecting the South African development region. Imagine what it can mean for Southern Africa if we were to be linked by pipeline to the oilfields in Cabinda, Angola.
We applaud government's efforts to accelerate economic growth and recent statements on developing the manufacturing base of South Africa. Together with the modernisation and technological innovation of industries you simply have to realise the importance of the principle of competitive advantage. Let's face it, in certain categories it will be impossible for South Africa to compete internationally and particularly against the Asian and East blocs.
Handicaps with regard to region, provincial bias and price-fixing must be addressed. The IFP supports the Department of Trade and Industry in its criticism of Mittal Steel with regard to their price-fixing aimed at South African steel manufacturers by selling steel at the London international export price. South African manufacturers should at least have the benefit of the international price, less the freight cost of that exported steel.
Telkom is another example of abuse of a privileged monopolistic situation, whilst Eskom is boasting cheap electricity tariffs, but at a single outgoing price regardless of where the industrial hubs are situated. It simply does not make sense that industries relocate to Cape Town and the Eastern Cape, driven by false economies of scale in terms of which electricity tariffs are kept artificially the same as in Mpumalanga and the Tugela Basin of KwaZulu-Natal. Why not lower the tariffs or increase them according to the real cost factor of power generated by Eskom? Industries will then locate to the most economical and advantageous region.
We are also in favour of the gas-fired turbine power station envisaged for and linked to Mossel Bay and the pebble bed modular reactor in order to level the playing fields and to generate the most sought-after scarcity of electricity in the Western Cape. Spectators at the last evening rugby match at Newlands must have seen the poster of the Koeberg Supporters Club: "Enjoy rugby by candlelight."
Feit is egter, mnr die Minister, dat die Kaap van "Stormers" nog steeds nie voldoende krag het nie. Al slaan jy jou o op na Tafelberg sien jy nog steeds nie waar jou krag vandaan kom nie, en dis waarom die nuutste statussimbool in die Kaap nou is om jou eie generator te kan besit.
Ten slotte, 'n vraag aan die agb Minister en sy kollega van Openbare Ondernemings: Het julle nou al die moer gekry wat Koeberg gesaboteer het? Sterkte en krag vir julle almal. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The fact, however, Minister, is that the Cape of "Stormers" still does not have sufficient electricity. Even if you cast your eyes up to Table Mountain, you will still not see where your electricity will be coming from, and that is why the latest status symbol in Cape Town is to own your own generator.
In conclusion, a question to the hon Minister and his colleague from Public Enterprises: Have you found the bolt which sabotaged Koeberg? Power and strength to everyone.]
Power to the people! [Time expired.]