House Chairperson, the first paragraph of the Division of Revenue chapter in the Budget Review states that the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework takes the National Development Plan, NDP, as its departure point. This is a plan which the ANC-led government has tabled, which all the opposition parties have supported, which civil society and business have got behind and which all economists across the ideological spectrum have welcomed.
The national planning commissioners have been drawn from every sector of society. These, ironically, include Chris Malikane, the chief economist of Cosatu. I say this because, while it may seem as if the whole country supports the NDP, in fact, the main critics of the plan are sitting in the tripartite alliance.
So, I have a question, Deputy Minister. What does it mean if our entire division of revenue is premised on the National Development Plan, yet the government's alliance partners are not only mildly opposed, but fundamentally opposed to the plan? For instance, when responding to the Budget, Cosatu said:
Aside from government, the only formations to have welcomed the NDP have been pro-business opposition parties and big business. Labour and many other progressives in the country have long realised that this plan is the reinforcement of the status quo in economic terms; hence the celebrations from the business sectors about it being made the alpha and omega.
When they appeared before the Finance committee, the key Cosatu union, Numsa, said:
The NDP is utilised as a point of departure for the Budget. Considering the severity of the country's socioeconomic challenges, as Numsa, we are extremely disappointed that the failed Gear and neoliberal macroeconomic policies are once again being hailed, under the facade of the NDP, as the perfect vehicle for addressing the country's challenges.
Now, my question is: Is it any use our debating the division of revenue if the departure ... [Interjections.]