Hon Deputy Speaker and hon members, the Bill before us is the main thrust of government's expressed policy for the coming year. Let me then hasten to add, however, that our biggest concern lies with the huge discrepancy that exists between what we approve here today and what actually gets delivered to our people.
At the heart of the matter is a severe lack of skills. We cannot build a winning nation against the backdrop of an institutional culture that celebrates ineptitude, and turns a blind eye to cronyism and tender fraud. We must go back to basics.
National government must take steps to improve its ability to monitor expenditure at all levels of government, starting with its own track record. All national departments must lead by example, including the Presidency. Despite our numerous calls in the past for the national government to lead from the front on this matter, there does not seem to be an improvement in national government's expenditure priorities and wasteful expenditure.
The recent wasteful expenditure of R100 million by the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, on some preposterous jamboree is a case in point. We are doubtful whether the NYDA will be able to account for this wasteful expenditure, as required to do so by the diligent Public Protector. Nor will they be able to account for the R385 million allocated to them for this fiscal year.
It is these basic issues which undermine the beautiful intentions of the budget process. Once again, we need to go back to the basics. We ought to replace the culture that celebrates ineptitude with one that celebrates and rewards competence and dedication. The UDM supports the Bill. [Time expired.] [Applause.]