Deputy Speaker, Ministers, hon members, today the committee tables its report to the National Assembly. We do so as directed by the Money Bills Amendment Procedure Act. It is important to remember that as Members of Parliament we are empowered in terms of the Act to amend the Budget. Through acting in the spirit of democracy and accountability, we, as the committee, must engage with the departments on the details of their forthcoming strategic plans.
The year 2011 has been announced as the "year for job creation", which we support. Therefore, each one of us must ask our departments to demonstrate how the twin problem of unemployment and poverty will be addressed in a sustainable manner in using this Budget.
We must look closely at the performance output throughout our government institutions. Currently South Africa is faced with a number of burning and worrying issues that have to be addressed if we want to build on our democracy base. It is disturbing, to say the least, when those in positions of authority do nothing when public reserves are misdirected and officials misuse public funds. There is little or no evidence that the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, or Municipal Finance Management Act, MFMA, is strictly adhered to.
Our future is in jeopardy if we do not attend to the education of our children. It is unacceptable when our school children have to walk more than 5km to get to school because of the poor or improper transport that has been arranged for them. It is even more worrying when school nutrition programmes are disbanded and those who are appointed to operate them open spaza shops and redirect the bread from the feeding scheme. We must stamp our authority and demand that our children receive proper and fair treatment from the state. Cadre deployment is rife in every level of government. We are short of critical skills. In 1994, 5 100 engineers served 14 million people outside the former homelands. Today, an estimated 1 800 engineers serve almost 47 million people. Minister Blade Nzimande must do something to address this issue and change the skills arrangement.
Nothing is done when officials of the state direct the very meagre resources to close relatives and their businesses, only to find that this money is used corruptly. We want to see action when these misdemeanours are detected. So far we have seen little, to say the least, only the rewinding of the corrupt practices.
The adoption of the Division of Revenue Act, Dora, and the allocation of over R888 billion therein, R288 billion to provinces and R34 billion to local government, should not and must not communicate the message "it's our turn to eat". Creating a strong political will is a starting point to a sustainable and effective anticorruption programme. Preventing changing values, creating a culture of professionalism with punitive measures, will be a deterrent measure for all.
Accountability, transparency, integrity and oversight are essential elements of a democratic institution and its processes. Accountability is a pillar of democracy and good governance. We are concerned and worried that the performance auditing is being delayed. These delays are of course not giving us the opportunity to interrogate the value for money as in terms of the Auditor-General's auditing.
We are aware that national government's net loan is projected to increase to R1,3 trillion in 2012-13. South Africa's debt, as well as the Public Sector Wage Bill, remain a concern and need serious management. We do believe that the Minister of Finance will manage this with the able director-general.
In closing, the fact that the department has been given an overall mandate for "jobs, jobs, jobs" requires a plan that must be tabled. All social partners have a role to play and this must be taken into account. These plans must be comprehensive and it is our responsibility to engage with the details of this department, monitor its implementation and ensure that all are sustainable, moving forward. Cope will, in fact, support this Bill. Thank you.