Thank you, Mr Speaker. Hon Deputy President, we have to agree that we require an all-round and an ongoing effort to ensure and promote the principles of nonracialism in our country. Certainly, the Constitution and other pieces of legislation provide the broad framework and principles for us to achieve that.
However, Mr Deputy President, speaking as one who comes from the ground and links up with people when I'm in my constituency, we know very well that amongst the affluent and wealthy in this country we have little cause for racial tension as money is truly a great leveller of the playing field. A rich person of whatever colour who wants to buy a particular service will go and buy that service. However, we have a problem with the lower-level income groups where the causes of racial tension are the limited supplies in terms of employment and government assistance to the poor.
Whilst in health, education and social welfare arenas there is equality in the provision of services, my observation is that in the area of government- promoted job-creation opportunities and, in particular, the provision of state-assisted housing - the Minister of Housing is here - there is a reality which leads to tensions as only certain groups of our society qualify in the main for state-assisted housing.
Now, Mr Deputy President, this happens with those that live in informal settlements who get priority over the backyard dwellers and those who live under a joint family system in crowded ... [Time expired.]