House Chairperson, a very good practice in the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises is that members are allowed, and in fact encouraged, to speak openly and frankly regarding issues and problems that we encounter at the state-owned companies. We robustly debate our observations and recommendations. More often than not, we agree unanimously on the findings.
History, however, tells us that the reports of these committees are often adopted in this House only to be filed away in a dark and dusty cabinet - never to be seen again! These recommendations and observations are simply too important not to be followed up. We need to ensure that our voices are not silenced.
Examples of some of these observations contained in this report that simply cannot be ignored or forgotten include observations that Eskom stated concerns regarding labour and race that continue to affect construction at the Medupi Power Station. Observations at Transnet stated concerns regarding the performance of some of the board members, especially one particular member, who serves on 59 other boards. Observations at SA Airways, SAA, stated that the airline has not achieved 48% of its key performance targets.
Let us not forget observations that Denel stated a high level of absenteeism and lack of commitment among some of their board members. The attendance of board meetings is truly shocking. The list goes on and on! As Members of Parliament and the voice of the South African public, we must ensure that our reports are followed up by action and that oversight work is not simply done in vain. Thank you. [Applause.]