Hon Chair, hon Minister, our dignitaries, hon members, I greet you all.
Ngifikelwa ukuthi ngithi helele! Kwamhlophe e-SA National Defence Force! Uzizwele ukuthi uNgqongqoshe utheni, uzizwele ukuthi uJenene Holomisa ugcwalisele wathini. Usangabaza? Liyabuya, libuyile! (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[I want to shout "hooray"! Congratulations to the SA National Defence Force! You heard what the Minister said, as well as what was said in addition by General Holomisa. Are you still in doubt? Normality is being restored; in fact, it has been restored!]
Mine is a very easy task. I am going to talk about military health and general support programmes that deal with the SA National Defence Force defending what is supposed to be a united, nonracial democratic South Africa. Given time, I will explain why I say "supposed". They defend these South Africans, driven by their own consciousness and patriotism, without being conscripted.
What is military health support? This is a programme that provides health services to all SANDF members and their dependants, military veterans and to the Department of Health when requested. This programme sometimes renders humanitarian assistance to places ravaged by natural disasters in valleys, mountainous areas, hills and the seas. It also provides health services where and when doctors and medical professionals are fighting for their rights and away from their daily work.
Military support knows no borders. When requested to go beyond the borders of the Republic of South Africa, where even our own soldiers in defence of those areas are exposed to a number of health-threatening situations, they do so. Theirs is not to reason why, but to do and succeed.
In short, the military support programme is not confined to hospitals as buildings only. You find them where people are and where people need them. This can be under a tree, near a river, on a hillock; all over.
The above therefore need skilling of the highest order whose budgetary implications, in terms of ensuring that this programme take place throughout the life span of a soldier, is an exercise that needs thorough scrutiny, a serious understanding of recruitment, training, and the maintenance of these men and women. It is a job that is costly.
With regard to the General Support Programme, it is "general support" because it is needed by the entire SANDF. It has five programmes, which are the Joint Logistics Services; the Command and Management Services; the Military Police; Technology Development; and Departmental Support.
These programmes, therefore, are always needed to ensure that appropriate services are delivered to all South Africans in order for them to live long and healthy lives in a peaceful and stable environment with our neighbours in the region and the continent as a whole. This is a very expensive call to respond to.
In conclusion - and to allow our Minister to wrap up and give her extra minutes - on behalf of the ANC, which is celebrating its centenary, I would like to thank these men and women who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the wellness, peace, stability and freedom for us all. We are happy to hear that never again will these men and women be found without shelter, food, clothing, and money to take care of their families. I am happy to hear that they will be buried with dignity and be remembered for what they did, laying down their lives for all of us. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]