House Chairperson, I rise in support of the report by the ANC. The portfolio committee did go to those various state-owned companies to exercise oversight. We are very happy with the breath of fresh air - the new boards that are in place.
The old people have been letting us down, committing all sorts of financial maleficence, but the Minister has been hands-on. He has now fired most of those people, who are now part of history, and the new people have come on board. For instance, you may find that the CEO of SAA, who had been playing a dual role, has now been suspended and removed from the board. That is a decisive action by the Ministry.
Moreover, there is a turnaround strategy that they have worked out which is going to be presented soon. By the way, SAA and SA Express are national airlines. They are the pride of the country and you can't sell them as if they were family silver, but you need to fix the eminent wrongs and ensure that you keep them. They are a national asset. When there are problems, you don't open the window and throw the baby out with bath water.
I think there are very few complaints from the DA, except that they are trying to engineer some election machinery. It is too early for you, but you must watch until the ANC election machinery grinds into operation in first gear. It will come down like an avalanche! It will crush the little rocks in its way and leave them pulverised like imperceptible moraine. It's too early to start electioneering.
The state-owned enterprises have a very important developmental agenda of the government. We also support the Department of Public Enterprises for its excellent leadership under the capable Ministry and the director- general. The ANC supports this annual report. Thank you. [Applause.]