Hon Chairperson, the IFP reluctantly supports this Vote. [Applause.] The reason for our reluctance is that we believe in the Minister's leadership and ability to correct the problems within this department, but the Minister should not take this vote of confidence for granted, because we expect results.
We also take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister and the department on the implementation of this departmental turnaround strategy. I hope the department has finally reached its lowest ebb by being run, indirectly, under administration and that it will now rebound into a fully functional and healthy entity.
However, I must warn the Minister that one cannot expect results with the same inputs. In this case I am referring to senior departmental officials. I am talking about the same officials who were there during the tenure of Minister Sigcau, who were there during the time of Minister Doidge, who were there during the time of Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde. They were there when the department was continually being embarrassed by qualified audits from the Office of the Auditor-General and they were there when there was a failure to keep a proper register of all departmental assets.
On 27 October last year, I stood here before this House in utter dismay and expressed great shock on behalf of the IFP when it was revealed that the Department of Public Works had just received disclaimer status from the Auditor-General. The department had sunk to an all-time low, but it is said that the tide turns at its lowest ebb. So, we are eagerly awaiting the tide to turn events around.
It is of paramount importance that the turnaround strategy addresses the departmental staff component and poor staff performance if it is to make any impact. What strategies are in place to ensure that poor work performance by officials, as well as corrupt and inept staff are summarily dealt with by the department? If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Disciplinary action must be swift and officials who have been found guilty must have their contracts terminated, not like the case of Director-General S Dongwana, who is still receiving a full salary and benefits while the case against him slowly proceeds.
A spirit of teamwork, loyalty and commitment to the department and its projects must be cultivated in the corporate culture of the department. Integrity and a strong work ethic must dominate the work space if we are to succeed. Strong, dedicated and unwavering leadership from senior department officials must be the order of the day. The recruitment of disabled people must also be increased because everyone in this country should have equal opportunity to find employment.
It is no secret that the Department of Public Works is owed many millions of rand by client departments. I therefore stand here today and directly challenge all client departments to settle their debts with the Department of Public Works.
The capacitation of municipal staff must occur seeing as the EPWP has not as yet been implemented in our municipalities owing to a lack of capacity. [Interjections.] What is the plan, Minister?
Ngqongqoshe, ngikufisela uhambo oluhle kule ndlela ehlabayo enameva nezipikili. Sihlalo, awukho uMnyango owake waba noNgqongqoshe abathathu ngethemu eyodwa, ungowokuqala lo. [Uhleko.] Ngaleyo ndlela-ke sikufisela uhambo oluhle mfo wakithi. Ngiyabonga. [Uhlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Hon Minister, I wish you a good journey on this challenging and tough road ahead. Chairperson, there has never been a department that had three Ministers in a single term - this is the first one. [Laughter.] We wish you a good journey, my brother. Thank you. [Applause.]]