Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Ministers, hon members and guests, one of the key features of an interventionist state is that it creates strategic and technical capacity within itself to be able to respond to the needs of the public. The state not only intervenes to render conditions conducive to economic purposes like foreign and local investment, but also to induce economic growth and employment creation. There are strategic tasks that require the government to participate in their performance against the direction of the market forces of demand and supply to ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of citizens.
In this regard, our Constitution entrenches the right to universal adult suffrage, the right to access to information and the right to freedom of speech. I will talk about three of our government's entities whose strategic mandate is to ensure that citizens enjoy the rights I have just alluded to. One of the pillars of our democracy is the constitutional value of universal adult suffrage, a national common voters' roll and regular elections. Over the years the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, has ascertained that our elections are indeed free and fair. Citizens continue to vote for their preferred candidates and preferred political parties secretly and without any reasonable apprehension of harm or bias. In this regard, the IEC has ensured that the voting results are credible. As a consequence, we have had administrations changing in all three spheres of government without any sociopolitical tension or upheaval caused since the dawn of our democracy.
More than just being a stabilising agent in our country, the IEC has proceeded to do the same when called upon in many parts of the African continent and abroad.
The commission therefore has the objective to promote the acceptance of and adherence to democratic electoral principles nationally. It also seeks to position itself as a continuously improving organisation. We congratulate the IEC for receiving local, regional and international awards for the progress made in managing elections.
The Government Printing Works contributes, among others, to creating a safer South Africa through executing secured printing for the state. It contributes towards an efficient, effective and development-oriented Public Service and an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship.
As a state-mandated security printer underpinned by the values of reliability, integrity, accuracy and stakeholder satisfaction, the Government Printing Works strives to provide cost-effective, reliable and timeous service in security printing to all spheres of government and to disseminate government information through technology, innovation and service excellence.
As the current building is neither suitable for the development of a secure printing facility nor conducive to production efficiency, the Government Printing Works, GPW, seeks to occupy other functional and secure facilities. This will enhance national security and limit economic identity fraud while contributing to secure documents and immigration issues. In order to improve efficiency and enable cost-effective production, the state requires continuous improvement and innovation in the security of documents, therefore relying on the most advanced equipment and technology. In this regard the GPW aims at acquiring modern production equipment to satisfy all state security printing requirements.
It is necessary to ensure that financial resources are managed in accordance with legislation and sound financial management practices to contribute towards financial sustainability. Therefore, GPW aims to provide quality financial and supply chain management services in compliance with legislation and with clients' needs to contribute to financial sustainability.
We are encouraged by the fact that, for the third year in succession, the GPW obtained an unqualified audit for the 2011-12 financial year. This confirms its position as a government-owned entity running on sound business principles with all its operations financed through revenue it generates by means of the services provided.
The Film and Publication Board is underpinned by the protection of children from early exposure to adult material and use in child pornography productions. It provides consumer advice on media content and designated areas for distribution of adult material. The board therefore ensures efficient and effective protection of children against exposure to undesirable media and entertainment content through of monitoring of the industry, ensuring that there is adherence to classifications imposed by the Film and Publication Board by industry and society in general. [Interjections.] You must keep quiet and listen.
We are also encouraged by the fact that the Film and Publication Board received an unqualified audit opinion and achieved 90% of its overall annual targets. However, we take note of and call for speedy intervention as a response to the challenges of limited information technology capacity and ageing IT infrastructure, a high vacancy rate due to the migration of the Film and Publication Board's structure to a new turnaround structure and limited capacity to regulate new media platforms like game applications. The other concern is with regard to cybercrime.
Without a shadow of doubt the performance of these government-owned and government-managed entities rebut the presumption that government participation in business and other sectors should be as minimal as possible. It is irrefutable that these entities run by the ANC-led government are operating on sound business principles in line with a responsive, transparent and accountable government. The work done by the entities continues to strengthen the case for more rather than less government intervention.
The awards won by the IEC demonstrate beyond any shadow of doubt that South Africa leads the world when it comes to running free and fair elections. The work of the GPW continues to secure the identity and other valuable information of our people and ensure the secure dispatch of official information to all subjects and affected stakeholders.
In the same vein, the FPB has ensured that suitable information reaches appropriate recipients and, in so doing, secure children against improper information. It should be noted that the FPB discharges its responsibility without resorting to undue censure and thus does not offend against the right of access to information provided for in the Constitution, but rather justifiably and reasonably limits the right, as set out in section 36 of the Constitution, to serve a legitimate government purpose.
It is from that informed perspective that we unreservedly support the budget allocated to these entities to execute their programmes. Re a leboga. Siyabonga! [Thank you.]