Deputy Speaker, under President Zuma's government, the budget of the Presidency has doubled to more than R900 million. The budget of the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, which falls under the Presidency, has become a vehicle for ANC Youth League support. This budget has doubled to R400 million.
Millions in state funds has been spent on the upgrading of the presidential official residence and offices. This is happening in the midst of the hon Minister of Finance's plea to all of us to urge government to be more prudent in its spending.
The President has invited us to talk during his Budget Speech. But when he was asked to tell us in his response if the Presidency should be accountable to a Parliament that has oversight over them, the President and the ANC chose instead to slap opposition parties, wasting valuable time and energy, trying to lecture us on South Africa's racist past.
Our proposal to make the President more accountable is nothing other than the establishment of an oversight committee. The ID would be abdicating its oversight responsibility by supporting a Budget Vote where no oversight structures exist. The ID does not support this budget. I thank you. [Applause.]