Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Ministers, chairperson of the portfolio committee and members, for many years the UDM has decried government's neglect of rural areas and communities. The rural people continue to occupy the periphery of economic activity. The infrastructure in rural areas is in a state of disrepair. Rural youth unemployment is unacceptably high.
However, it is gratifying to see that to a considerable extent rural youth skills development and unemployment needs are receiving much-needed attention, due in large part to the department's National Rural Youth Service Corps. We hope that the 7 000 young people recruited thus far were not screened on the basis of political affiliation.
In addition, government's noble intention of creating 500 000 rural jobs over the next five years will yield nothing if inadequate attention continues to be paid to the creation of effective performance monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in this and many other government departments.
While you are still there, Chairperson, I trust that with regard to the officials who were arrested and charged, as the Minister has just informed us, the department will work hand in hand with the investigating team and the courts to see to it that at the end of the day those culprits are convicted and sentenced.
The UDM has always advocated infrastructure-led growth in rural communities to remedy the shocking state of infrastructure in the rural communities, and to create employment opportunities. The UDM has always maintained that rural communities have different needs, as compared to urban communities. There needs to be a comprehensive control structure that attends to the special needs of rural communities, such as dipping tanks, fencing of grazing lands and mealie fields, clearing of streams and rivers, and the combating of soil erosion, among others.
The UDM supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]