Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, and hon members, the UDM supports Budget Vote No 6. [Applause.]
Today we are debating the Budget Vote of one of the government's departments that has a broad mandate. Used properly, the department's broad mandate could allow it to meaningfully and positively affect the service delivery chain.
When this department was established, its leadership was in a fortunate position in that, unlike other well-established departments, it did not inherit employees from previous administrations. It had a rare opportunity to recruit and appoint the right people. Time will tell whether or not the department used that opportunity well.
The wave of service delivery protests over the past few years is a clear indication that the public sector service delivery chain is full of bottlenecks and inefficiencies. The root cause of these problems could be poor co-ordination of government programmes. In conclusion, it is my considered view that the National Planning Commission and the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation should be one department. Then the experienced Minister, Trevor Manuel, should be put in charge of the new department. This is because logic dictates that a person who develops a plan is better placed to monitor and evaluate its implementation. Furthermore, his National Development Plan impacts directly on the mandate of this department.
Kumhlobo wam, uMphathiswa lo, uNxamalala angakunika elinye isebe kuba baninzi aBaphathiswa abayabula nje apha esithubeni bengazi nokuba kuyasa okanye kubhekwa ngaphi na. Ngoko ke, ungahamba uye kukhokela elinye laloo masebe. [Kwahlekwa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[To my friend the hon Minister, Nxamalala might transfer him to another department because there are many Ministers who do not know whether they are coming or going. Therefore, he might have to replace one such Minister. [Laughter.]]
On a serious note ...
... siyambulela umlawuli jikelele kunye neqela lakhe kuba ndisebenzisana nabo nqqo ukujongana nokusombulula ezi ngxaki imihla ngemihla. Bayaphendula, babhale, basixelele kwaye sizive neengxelo ezivela kwelo sebe lichaphazelekayo okanye kumasipala. Mabayeke ke mhlekazi ukuyabula. Tshintsha, ubajonge ngoku kuba bazula apha esithubeni besihla benyuka. Noba kukho uqhankqalazo ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... we thank the director-general and his team, whom I interact directly with in addressing and resolving these problems on a daily basis. They respond in writing and give us reports from relevant departments or from local government. Sir, let them stop going up and down. Even when there is a protest march ...]
... you are being chased by these councillors. You won't see an MEC, you won't see a National Minister ...
... iyile kwezi ndawo zinika iingxaki. Khawube ngathi ufaka isabhokhwe nkosi, kungenjalo siza kukususa kweso sikhundla sakho. Enkosi. [Kwahlekwa.] [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... in the trouble spots. So, chief, crack the whip or else we are going to recall you. Thank you. [Laughter.] [Applause.]]