Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, members of the NCOP, and distinguished guests, it is correct that South Africa has progressively earned a reputation for sound fiscal management since it attained democracy and earned its place amongst developing and developed nations through fiscal discipline and a prudent regulatory regime in the financial market. It is also correct that we are now rated number one internationally in terms of our Budget transparency. [Applause.]
From the ANC's perspective, tax is a foundational building block for a developmental state, an expression of a collective effort in terms of the value system of ubuntu. It is the most critical source of revenue for a developmental state to be effective in meeting social challenges and redirecting economic growth. The triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality, as outlined by the President in his state of the nation address and also alluded to by the Minister during the tabling of the Budget, will require immediate and massive state intervention in this financial year and the years that follow.
The ANC-led government has committed itself to the creation of jobs to reduce unemployment, promoting the principles of decent work so that the quality of life for workers can be improved, promoting rural development and sustainable livelihoods through measures that empower communities with land and other appropriate resources, improving the quality of our education system and providing health care services for all citizens, irrespective of their economic status, as well as fighting crime and corruption.
During his state of the nation address, President Jacob Zuma indicated that government remains steadfast in addressing the challenges of creating jobs, reducing poverty, building infrastructure and expanding our economy. As a developmental state, we will require that education, health and social assistance remain the largest categories of expenditure, sustaining and expanding the social wage over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period ahead. Investment in people is at the centre of our growth and development strategy. Our government will expand infrastructure investment over the period ahead. We have to see business investing in our future as well. Government has expanded social assistance to households over the past decade, but employment and economic activity are to be the main future drivers of economic growth and poverty reduction.
Our fiscal and budgetary reforms have always been informed by the space we occupy in the global economy and the challenges confronted by our people.
Motl Modulasetilo, puso ya ANC e supile gore e dira ka fa dikgatlegong tsa baagi ba rona. MaAforika Borwa ka bophara, ba amogela matsapa a puso ya bone e fetolang matshelo a bone ka kakaretso. Baagi ba Bokone Bophirima, ba itumelela maitlhomo a puso ya boset?haba a go tlhabolola mafaratlhatlha a ditsela kwa porofenseng ya borona. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Deputy Chairperson, the ANC government has demonstrated that it works according to the interests of its people. South Africans in general acknowledge government's effort in generally improving their lives. The people of the North West province are pleased with national government's aim of developing the roads infrastructure in our province.]
Medium-term priorities in health spending include hospital infrastructure, the comprehensive HIV/Aids treatment and prevention programme, and expanding training for health professionals. Progress in these areas will strengthen the public health system, paving the way for the introduction of a national health insurance. This will contribute to job creation.
Chair, our government has progressively built modern financial fiscal institutions and fundamentally reformed its tax system and fiscal framework. Moreover, fiscal outcomes improved markedly in the past years, reflecting rising of prices, strong outputs, growth, and a commitment to restraining spending on the windfall gains, supported by an institutional mechanism to manage resources. Thank you. [Applause.]