Die VF Plus vind dit sinvol dat die regering gefokusde aandag gee aan ekonomiese groei. Dat daardie ekonomiese groei gepaard moet gaan met behoorlike werkskepping, is verder van kardinale belang. Ons wil ook die regering se poging om die gebruik van die begroting te meet aan tasbare uitkomste erken as 'n stap in die regte rigting. Dit moet in der waarheid die taak van alle staatsdepartemente wees om hulle besig te hou met die gedagte dat hulle uitsette die vrye mark in staat moet stel om kwaliteit werk te skep. Uiteindelik moet die staat krimp en die vrye mark moet volhoubaar groei.
Wat betref die Departement van Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling, is die mandaat van beleidskordinasie sinvol, aangesien ons binne 'n komplekse sisteem vorentoe moet kyk. Ek is egter steeds nie seker hoe die departement se werksaamhede sal saamval of losval, ten aansien van die beoogde Beplanningskommissie nie. Dalk sal die Minister so gaaf wees om dit aan ons te verduidelik.
Die begrotingsverslag dui ook aan dat die departement personeel sal moet aanstel. Dit behels natuurlik 'n swaarder las op die fiskus en dus die belastingbetaler. Ons sal dus ook wil weet hoe daar verseker gaan word dat die nuwe aanstellings maksimaal tot voordeel van die land sal wees. Ons wil verder weet of die Minister aanstellings op meriete gaan oorweeg, of moet ons weer tevrede wees met nog ANC-kaders wat struggle-vergoeding kry deur poste waarvoor hulle geen kapasiteit het nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: The FF Plus says it makes sense for the government to pay focused attention to economic growth. It is also of the utmost importance that this economic growth is attended by proper job creation. We also want to acknowledge the government's attempt at measuring utilisation of the budget against concrete outcomes as a step in the right direction. It should indeed be the task of all government departments to busy themselves with the idea that their outputs must enable the free market to create quality jobs. The state should eventually contract and the free market should grow in a sustainable manner. As regards the Department of Economic Development, the mandate of policy co- ordination makes sense, because we have to look ahead within a complex system. However, I am still not sure how the department's activities will fall together or fall free in respect of the envisaged Planning Commission. Maybe the Minister will be so kind as to explain this to us.
The budget report indicates that the department will have to appoint staff. Of course this entails a heavier burden on the fiscus and therefore on the taxpayer. We will therefore have to know how one can guarantee that these new appointments will take place optimally to the country's advantage. Furthermore, we want to know whether the Minister will consider appointments on merit, or must we again be satisfied with more ANC cadres receiving struggle compensation through posts for which they do not have the capacity.]
As for the institutions that the department will oversee, I would like to comment as follows. First, I want to comment on the Competition Commission. The further investigation into high food and banking costs must proceed with speed and intensity. This must be a key priority in raising the quality of life in South Africa.
Second, I want to comment on the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC. The department and the IDC must, as a focus area, pledge its support to the film and television industry, because this industry creates jobs fast and fairly effortlessly. We believe that by adding tax incentives to the mix, more long-term international productions will come to South Africa, leading to the quick creation of jobs. The director of the film District 9, Neill Blomkamp, a South African - or ex-South African - should not be living in Vancouver, but actually in Johannesburg.
We also believe that the essence of the problems besieging South Africa is the inability to deliver policy outcomes. This means that we have a people problem, as such. Therefore, I wish to know whether merit will somehow make its comeback to South Africa, so that we can deliver excellence, not only in our daydreams but also in the real world, in South Africa, for all its people. And when you talk about building an inclusive economy, we would like to know if it means that there is a place for minorities.
I have a last note to the official opposition. When you mention your special type of liberalism, of the Alan Paton-type, you talk of a generosity of spirit. I do not see that when you play games by excluding certain oppositions from talks to oppose the ANC. Mr Trollip is not here, but I would like to address this to him. I believe he is a reasonable and sensible man. I, therefore, ask him to think again and not to exclude certain segments of South Africans from fighting for a better life. Otherwise the electorate will punish you in the end, for they care not about our egos but only about what is good for them. Thank you.