Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members, the UDM supports Budget Vote 7. [Applause.] A lot has changed since this department was dubbed the worst-run department in the country. Since the Minister took over, there have been a number of noteworthy improvements in how the Department of Public Works conducts its affairs. These improvements could be ascribed to the department's turnaround strategy.
We are encouraged by the department's bold decision to conduct an internal skills audit. The UDM has always been consistent in calling on the government to conduct a skills audit in all spheres of government. A skills audit is the only way in which the department can establish whether or not it has the capacity required to deliver services to the people. A skills audit will help ensure that the government is able to identify its skills base together with its skills gap and thus enable it to take corrective steps.
Despite the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done to rid the department of its woes. The department needs to resolve the controversial and often costly lease agreements for public offices. It needs to reclaim its mandate of providing government building infrastructure to other government departments.
We call on the department to fast-track all legislation that is intended to transform the construction and development industry, particularly that relating to the Construction Industry Development Board.
The UDM would like to pledge its support to the Minister and senior management in the Department of Public Works.
Mphathiswa, siyabulela ngokuba uthe wonyulwa njengoMphathiswa weli sebe wenza neenguqu, kodwa kukho ingxaki xa sifuna ukubanga olu gunyaziso ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Minister, we are thankful that you have been elected as the Minister for this department and for the changes you have made. However, there is a problem when we want to determine the authority ...]
... in terms of which Basic Education erects buildings. Worst of all, you have a very good entity ...
... ebizwa ngokuba yi-Independent Development Trust ekwaziyo ukwakha nenerekhodi elaziwayo lokwakha kodwa kusetyenziswa iSebe leeNkonzo zoLuntu noLawulo kulwakhiwo. Siyacela ungenelele nakumaphondo kuba le ngxaki inkulu kwaye inzima kuba aba bantu esifuna ukuba baphuhliswe abaphuhliseki ngenxa yaloo nto.
Enye ingxaki enkulu, yile ibithethwa yale nkqubo intsha yokwakha izikolo. Intle yona kuba ixabiso layo liyafikeleleka kwaye iyakhawuleza kodwa iyabetha ekuphuhliseni abantu bethu. Siyacela ukuba uyijonge le ndlela intsha yokwakha izikolo. Siyi-UDM siyakubulela kuba oko uthe wangena kwesi sikhundla kuyabonakala ukuba kukho into eqhubekayo. Siyakukhuthaza ukuba uqhube kakuhle ukuze sakhe uMzantsi Afrika wethu kuba ngowethu kunye nabantwana bethu. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[... called the Independent Development Trust, which builds properly and has a good track record in construction. Yet the Department for the Public Service and Administration is the one used for construction. We request your intervention in the provinces since this is a big and difficult problem because the people, whom we would like to be developed are not being developed as a result.
Another big problem is the new school building project that was mentioned. It is quite good because the price is manageable and it is faster but it fails in terms of developing our people. We request that you keep an eye on the new school building project. As the UDM, we commend you because progress is in evidence ever since you took over in this position. We encourage you to keep on doing well so that we build our South Africa because at the end of the day it is our country and that of our children. Thank you. [Applause.]]