Chairperson and hon Minister ...
U departement het heelwat komplekse probleme van die vorige administrasie gerf. Sommige word sinvol aangespreek en dan is daar di wat so verkeerd bestuur word dat geen salf meer daaraan te smeer is nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Your department has inherited a number of complex problems from the previous administration. Some are addressed sensibly, but then again there are those that are so poorly managed that they are beyond redemption.]
The government's infrastructure plan, especially with regard to the upgrading of the railway system for both passengers and freight conveyance, seems sensible, and we trust that these programmes will be executed without corruption, discrimination and other wastage of the taxpayer's money. There are, however, three problems that the Minister needs to address.
Firstly, the public and business still find rail transport too expensive. If no incentives are created to change transport habits, then the expenses incurred to upgrade the railway system and build new portions will be fruitless. How is the Minister going to address this concern?
Secondly, while we must be forward-looking in policy and action, we must never forget the contributions made by previous generations in building institutions like Transnet. Yet, that is exactly what government is doing by ignoring the plight of the pensioners on the two Transnet pension funds, who are still receiving only 2% increases per annum.
I have noted that Prasa will force any successful manufacturer in a rail tender to bring a black economic empowerment, BEE, partner on board. If that is the case, why can't Transnet and Prasa also require the successful bidders in all tenders to make a social investment contribution to the Transnet pension funds, so that pensioners can forthwith receive increases equal to inflation? This will avoid another expensive court case that involves government.
Agb Minister, aan die een kant bestee die regering geld aan openbare infrastruktuuropgradering en -skepping ten einde die ekonomie te laat groei. Die Minister van Handel en Nywerheid skep heelwat programme om industrialisering en werkskepping aan te moedig. Aan die ander kant besluit die regering om, teen alle goeie raads, voort te gaan met die inwerkingstelling van die e-tolstelsel in Gauteng. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Hon Minister, on the one hand government is spending money on upgrading and creating public infrastructure in order to make the economy grow. The Minister of Trade and Industry is creating a number of programmes in order to encourage industrialisation and job creation. On the other hand, government is deciding, against all good advice, to proceed with the implementation of the e-tolling system in Gauteng.]
This tolling system is, in essence, nothing but a government-induced cancer introduced into South Africa's economic system. Everyone in this country is in agreement about the adverse effects of this cancer once activated, except the Sanral and the government, it seems. The unfolding of this saga is like watching a terrible accident unfolding in slow motion.
We all know that once a tax has been introduced, governments do not do away with it. They just increase the rates. Hon Minister, this immoral tax, under the guise of a toll tariff, has already sown the seeds of discontent for popular revolt in this country like nothing since 1994. Therefore, this matter must be dealt with urgently on a different basis - as a sociopolitical issue, and not as a legal one. Ignorance is bliss, but in this case it will be suicide. We urge you therefore to heed and bow to the will of the people. I thank you.