Mr Speaker, it has been widely reported that a total of R2 billion is going to be spent on building the Mlalazi-Nkandla Smart Centre, just 3 km away from the hon President's homestead in Nkandla.
One billion rand of this amount is set to come from the government's coffers. Yet, within a 100 km radius of Nkandla in places like Amasango Amnyama, Ebizimali and Equdeni, there are still people who live without the most basic services like water and electricity.
Now, I hear the hon President talking about the rural development nodes, but we know that there have been reports of other government departments - departments like the Department of Agriculture - that have provided up to R800 million for this project. It is surprising that the hon President did not mention this in his reply. Can the President justify the spending of R2 billion in one area, an area that just happens to be 3 km away from his own homestead, while other areas within 100 km in the province of KwaZulu-Natal are without the most basic services; and why was this area identified when others are so desperately in need? Thank you. [Applause.]