Just for your information, this is not last year. She is lying now at the Johannesburg General Hospital, Mr President, as we speak. [Interjections.] Thank you. He said:
When I walked in I noticed that her mouth had shifted to the left and that meant she had suffered a stroke. No tests were run.
Today, what is your response to that?
We agree with you on the need to reduce the red tape. But how do you square this, sir? The Premier of the Free State - and I gave the Minister of Finance a note yesterday - has issued a circular freezing all payments to service providers in the Free State. As a result, most small, medium and micro enterprises have not been paid, are going bankrupt. Their assets are being attached; section 21 schools cannot procure basic necessities, let alone learner-support materials. Unless you deal with this issue, your words on reducing red tape, creating jobs and supporting SMMEs will ring hollow. [Applause.]
You spoke about assisting firms during this time of need. This is good news. But, sir, what are the objective criteria to help? Without objective criteria, you will not be able to convince us that the intervention in companies such as Frame is not based on saving Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union, Sactwu, investments. This may be a perception, but without a plan it will become a reality.
Let's support industries by all means, but let us do so by looking also at growth sectors such as services, energy renewal and the environment. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]