Madam Chair, Minister of Energy, chair of the portfolio committee, hon members, ladies and gentlemen ... like you, Chair, I invited my family but I got the time wrong. They were here but they've gone home now. [Laughter.] I was interested when you said you've got girls only, because I've got two boys and maybe we should talk. [Laughter.] Anyway, my wife and my children are now watching from home, so I say hello to them there.
It is an honour for me to address this committee again on this important budget debate. But I must say that I do so with a real sense of deep concern, because while our committee, I think, has done a decent job over the past almost one year of delving into the details of the portfolio and really asking tough questions, I feel that the same cannot be said for the department, Minister.
Despite much of the positives which colleagues have already mentioned, I think we are in a situation that really makes one concerned for the future, because the department and the institutions associated with it have been very slow to acknowledge the fact that we are in a crisis in relation to energy. One doesn't get the feeling from them that they understand the sense of urgency. I know, Minister, that not all of this can be placed at your feet, because you've only been Minister for a year, but, as they say, it is your lot in life and it is something that I think you are going to have to focus on.
The reality that we must accept as citizens, Minister, is that despite all the consequences that we have seen of the crisis in this sector and despite all the emergencies that we have experienced, whether it is the blackouts or the astronomical price increases, our country still does not have a coherent and focused strategy to ensure that there is cleaner, more affordable and sustainable energy in the near future and that it is provided equitably to the people. This is despite our abundant natural resources. We are blessed as a country with coal, gas, uranium, sunlight, water and wind. If there is one place in the world where energy should be cheap, it should be this country. When you look at the region, it is even more so - when you consider just the hydro possibilities in neighbouring countries.
There are a number of reasons for this malaise, but the primary problem that everything stems from is that the government has failed to transform the inefficiencies and the outdated philosophy of energy production and distribution that was inherited from the apartheid regime.
As the result, we have an Eskom that still lumbers on producing energy in a fashion that is wasteful and expensive environmentally. This type of wastefulness that we observe is compounded, I believe, by a lack of any sense of responsibility or accountability in the ruling party. The Chancellor House debacle, as an example, graphically illustrates this, because the idea that the ruling party should benefit financially through the stake in Hitachi, at the expense of taxpayers, especially given all the misery and price increases that we have had to bear, is shocking. It's nothing short of shocking.
What is even more shocking is that sections of the ruling party seem to think that this is okay. You make jokes about it. You think it is okay. What really should have been a simple issue of this country going to get a loan for development, for the needs of the people, has turned into an outright scandal and it has made us look as if our country is thoroughly corrupt.
I believe, Minister, that it is imperative that you make a statement on this matter so that the public can judge whether or not your party is looking after its own interests and bank balance, or the interests of the taxpayers and the consumers. You cannot stop the tenderpreneurs if your own organisation is the biggest tenderpreneur. [Applause.]
Despite government setting up things like the Electricity Distribution Industry, the EDI, and so on, Eskom still controls most of the production, distribution and retail supply of electricity. Despite spending billions of rand on the pebble bed modular reactor, we have now canned that as a project. And despite all the public-consultation processes, the reality is that we as consumers still have to just suck up all this inefficiency and poor service. This lack of performance leaves a really bitter aftertaste, given the potential of our country.
The transformation of this sector can only truly begin if the government changes its perspective on energy. Instead of regarding the sector as a service and delivering it reluctantly, government must start to see the energy sector as a dynamic new opportunity for driving growth, sustainable industrialisation, research, development and innovation. Importantly, government must recognise the strategic nature of the sector. I am afraid that too much of the old "poskantoor" ["post office"] attitude lingers on in the energy sector. What we need to drive this out with is a bold vision for the 21st century and, I think, Minister, that that is what the public is looking forward to.
I must say, in conclusion, Minister, that despite all these negative things, we in Cope truly believe that there is a possibility of a partnership between government, consumers and the private sector to ensure that we do what is necessary to change the nature of the sector. The benefits and advantages of that, Minister, is that we can turn the sector into a massive job-creating opportunity - real jobs - not "job opportunities" that we see in the Public Works programmes, but real jobs with artisans, scientists and so on being placed in the sector. But for that to happen, Minister, we need a state that thinks it is in the 21st century.
We really believe that that's a challenge you have to live up to, Minister. Of course, we in Cope will do everything we can to support you. But, as we have shown, we are not going to sit by idly when there is a lack of performance and a lack of accountability. We need you to take care of those negative issues, Minister. If you do, you can be assured of our support. Thank you very much. [Applause.]