Chairperson, the clock has already started here. I hope you will give me some injury time!
Hon Minister and Deputy Minister, I think the hon chairperson of this portfolio committee and members will know that I did not personally attend any of the meetings where the strategic plan was presented, but I understand that hon Oriani-Ambrosini did attend. He is speaking in the other debate in the Old Assembly Chamber. I also understand that he has sent an open letter - which I have with me - to the chairperson of the committee and I will not address that matter. I am sure the chairperson will respond at an appropriate time.
Having said that, let me say, in the words of the hon Minister, that we are living in "dangerous times" and we need a new kind of leadership. The kind of leadership that we need is the kind of leadership that was shown by Dr Franz Tomasek, Mr Themba Maphalala, the regional manager of KwaZulu-Natal SA Revenue Service, Sars, Mr Pragasen Govender and Mr Nivesh Laljith from Sars. The hon chairperson of the committee has spoken about the importance of Sars.
Sars is the institute that collects most of the income that we spend. No money, no spending! I would also like to compliment Sars on the way they do their work, even though I read from the report that the number of staff will be reduced by 100 or 200 in the coming year. I think it is a good sign that, even with less staff, we can still continue with the kind of work that we are doing.
Hon Minister, the following incident concerns some pensioners in the Chatsworth area who contacted us. They received letters stating that they were going to be penalised by Sars. We know that pensioners are encouraged to open bank accounts to put their pensions in. When they open their bank accounts, they derive some interest. Because there is a double income, they are required to complete the tax form. We have heard that there were gentlemen who went there and assisted them. They have assured us that the department is now withdrawing the need for pensioners to complete those forms. This process puts a lot of stress and trauma on them and I trust that the Minister will confirm that that is going to be the case as we move forward.
Chairperson, we certainly do not need the kind of leadership that a report of the Public Service Commission, presented at the Standing Committee on Appropriations, showed. One of the objectives of Treasury is to improve value derived from public funds spent and we agree with that. Inasmuch as the taxpayers pay through direct and indirect taxes, they will be assured that there is value for money in regard to expenditure. This report suggests that many departments have spent almost 100% of their budgets at the end of the year. In regard to performance, however, which is rated against their own predetermined objectives, they fall way behind. Just by way of example, the Department of Labour spent 99,5% of its budget but its performance was 43,4%. Agriculture spent 97,4% of its budget, but its performance was 35%. This leaves a lot to be desired and, in fact, emphasises the challenge that National Treasury has. One of the objectives of the National Treasury is to ensure that it promotes an efficient, effective and development-oriented public service. We need an assurance from the Public Service and its officials that they are going to spend the taxpayer's money wisely.
Having said that, let say that in November last year I sent a copy of a letter to the Minister which I had addressed to the former Minister of Co- operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, with regard to conditional grants. This referred to ...