Deputy Speaker, this report by the Auditor-General presents some very worrying results. Whilst there are insufficient legal provisions in place to preclude public servants from doing business with the government, it can't be right that the government must provide employment for its citizens, who then use state coffers as a cash cow to further their own greed, especially in a country where millions of South Africans are living in abject poverty.
The ID is firmly of the view that public servants are employed to serve the people of our country and not to milk the state of its resources. Public servants must decide whether they want to serve our country or go into business with the government, but they must certainly not be allowed to do both.
The millions of rands earned by government employees through business deals with the government could have been better used to create opportunities for the many micro businesses in our country that are already struggling to survive.
The ID therefore calls for an urgent review of the Public Service Regulations and calls on the government to implement urgent corrective measures to prevent this abuse of our public resources. I thank you.