Speaker, I think on the jobs that we promised we gave a report here, and it was very clear as to what happened. I don't think we need to go back to that. Owing to the recession, all companies in all countries suffered job losses.
What I have just talked about here is what we did as a country in a joint agreement to save jobs, and I have indicated the jobs that we saved. This does not mean that there were not jobs lost, and I think we all saw that issue become public, in that we lost more than 900 000 jobs, probably more than a million. It was because of the situation that faced all of us.
Under the circumstances, we did our best. Many countries have been saying South Africa was able to face this crisis in a very unique fashion. No other country was able to do so. I don't think that we could have done otherwise. We did what we could do. Thank you. [Applause.]
Particulars regarding consideration of applications for pardon and reasons for refusal of certain applications
5. Mr J H van der Merwe (IFP) asked the President of the Republic:
(1) In respect of his refusal of 230 applications for pardon and 154 pending outcomes of the 384 applications that were made to him in terms of section 84(2)(j) of the Constitution, what are the reasons for the refusal of each of the applications;
(2) whether he has called for any additional information and/or documents other than the information contained in the applications themselves to assist him to exercise his powers to grant or refuse pardon; if not, why did he refuse the offer of additional information by the applicants' attorney; if so, what information and documents were placed before him to enable him to exercise his power in each of the applications? NO758E