Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members, the Department of Public Works plays a crucial role in our economy by providing management of the infrastructure development needs of South Africa through its Expanded Public Works Programme. Since its inauguration, the Expanded Public Works Programme has created thousands of jobs.
It is altogether gratifying to see that the Expanded Public Works Programme has received a budget allocation increase of R96 million, from R1,5 billion the previous year to R1,6 billion in 2011-12. This is an indication that government is indeed serious about the creation of employment for the poor.
However, the UDM feels that there is still scope for government to do more to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and transfer skills. We need to increase our investment in infrastructure development in the rural and peri- urban areas, in order to create jobs and training opportunities for the unemployed, unskilled and marginalised members of our society. South Africa needs an inclusive economic growth.
The next challenge, in our view, for the Department of Public Works is to increase the percentage of short-term and temporary jobs that become or lead to long-term permanent jobs.
The skills shortage and connected issues are neither new nor unforeseen. For many years we listened to the Department of Public Works acknowledge that the main challenge it faced related to the skills shortage. By now we would have expected Public Works to have conducted a skills audit to establish a skills base. It is without a shadow of doubt the that, if not addressed, skills shortages will continue to undermine Public Works' eight priorities that guide the medium-term plan.
The tolerance of corruption is Public Works' Achilles heel. As long as Public Works does not impose sanctions on corrupt government officials who graft through dubious lease agreements and corrupt tenders, there will always be an unnecessary wastage of scarce resources. All the department's programmes on skills development and employment creation will amount to nothing. In response to the current corrupt tender system, the UDM proposes an independent tender board. [Interjections.]
Okokugqibela, Mphathiswa, sibayeke aba bangxolayo. [In conclusion, hon Minister ... let's ignore those who are making a noise.]
Hon Minister, we thank you for your intervention in the O R Tambo District by removing the official concerned. However, we are concerned when an official undermines you and is not prepared to move. We request your immediate intervention in this matter in order to boost the morale of the workers and also to engage with tender irregularities. [Applause.]