Chair, the historic mission of our movement, which translated to the historic mission of the country through law, is that of a united South Africa, a nonsexist South Africa, a nonracial South Africa and a prosperous South Africa.
The big challenge that we have, hon Chair, is that we need to act on the challenges of life between the realisation of that dream and the day we dreamt it. To achieve that dream, we are required to live a life that is inspiring to our people, a life that is dependable, a life that inspires confidence.
It is in that context, Comrade Minister, that I applaud the department to have adopted, amongst its three strategic goals, the one that says, "enhancing organisational efficiency, integrating justice services for a simpler and faster delivery".
I want to affirm the stance of our movement on these issues; amongst others, in taking a bold step to challenge Adam Smith, who in his treaties on moral sentiments and the causes of the wealth of a nation, asserted that governments are wasteful, corrupt, militaristic and unproductive.
The movement took the view that that sentiment does not apply everywhere, and adopted a role that renders the state central in our struggle towards realising this historic mission. Our movement found a way in respect of the capacity implications that are required through our strategy and tactics document.
Amongst others, there is the need for a state strategic capacity based on that approach that ensures that we are people-centred and a people-driven change agent, and also a leading capacity that ensures that we move together in defining our common national agenda and mobilising all our people at large in its implementation.
Our movement has asserted that, without an organisational capacity, it is not going to be possible to ensure structures, and systems will facilitate the realisation of this set agenda of our institution. Macro-organisational issues of the state will not continue to receive attention unless this organisational capacity is realised. It is our movement again that has asserted that the technical capacity of the state is critical in ensuring that we translate the broad objectives into programmes and projects to ensure their implementations.
A key element, hon Chair, of this technical capacity is ensuring that there is proper training, orientation and leadership of the Public Service and acquisition and retention of skilled personnel. However, there are issues that are militating against this intended and noble view. It is in that context that I commend the hon Minister for being upfront in his approach, where in his speech in addressing the portfolio committee he said:
We recognise the challenges we have had in our internal control system, which have resulted in the department receiving qualified audits in the previous three years. During my term I want to ensure that there is no recurrence of these bad audits in the department. Thus we have set our sights on improving corporate governance and enhancing the department's internal control system. Our plan is to develop a robust turnaround strategy that will establish building blocks towards an unqualified audit. In addition we want to improve our enterprise risk management system to ensure that we fully comply with the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA, and other prescripts.
That is the bold initiative by the department we want to commend.
I also want to state very clearly that the implications, therefore, of a qualified audit extends beyond the violation of the general accounting principles and failure to observe the law. The impact of a qualified audit is neither felt by the accounting officer - it is not felt by the Members of Parliament - nor by the rich. The impact of it is felt by the poor who cannot access justice, because courts are far from them or because the Legal Aid Board was not capitalised adequately to expand its caseload and extend its reach. The impact of a qualified audit is felt by the poor presumed innocent awaiting-trial detainee subjected to successive case remands, owing to prosecutor inadequacy and heavy caseloads. Indeed, clean governance should be recognised as central to the service of our people.
I also want to read something else that militates against what our movement proposes as a required capacity. I want to quote from the 11 March 2010 Scopa ANC study group when it observed:
Most of the problems identified by the Auditor-General in his audit relate to the internal control issues - contravention of PMFA and Treasury regulations.
In too many instances these issues are not being effectively monitored by leadership. There are three categories of leadership that are articulated here: one, you will be surprised, is the portfolio committee themselves, ministers and directors-general.
The report goes further to aver that there appears to be a general reluctance on the part of departments and entities to investigate timeously noncompliance with relevant legislation such as the PFMA and cases of fraud and corruption; and to follow with appropriate disciplinary or criminal action.
We further refer to factors that militate against these which our movement proposed. I want to quote the statement of the National Executive of 8 January:
Corruption poses a serious threat to our struggle to build a caring society and it erodes the moral fabric of our society. It is a threat that must be fought both inside and outside the state. The ANC must never tolerate corruption. Resolutely punishing and effectively preventing corruption is therefore a major political task the ANC must attend to at all times. All ANC members should be aware that combating corruption is a battle that can be won.
The statement concludes this matter by categorically stating that:
The ANC is committed to transforming the state in a manner that benefits our people. There is no room for using the resources of the state for self-enrichment and acting from narrow selfish interests. Selfishness is alien to the values of our movement.
The other militating factor against what our movement is proposing will be reflected in the Finance Minister's statement:
A major site of both wastage and inefficiency is in our procurement system through combination of corrupt practices, inefficient procurement, poor planning and in some instances collusion by private sector.
We are not getting the kind of value from our purchases that our people deserve. Corruption is an ever-present threat to our ambitions. All South Africans must constantly and consciously work to root out this cancer. If we are to address the scourge, we need to improve management capability, governance enforcement and oversight in government and in the business sector. Poorly managed tender processes are all too often open to such abuses.
I just want to say that these challenges will undermine what the Minister is committing himself to do, but we are very confident. You have inspired us by speaking unwaveringly and unflinchingly on these matters, that these are the stances of our movement, and the movement has spoken about them. [Applause.]