Deputy Speaker, it is ironic that, according to the speech of the Minister of Finance on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, 500 000 people have lost jobs while on 3 June 2009, the President promised that, "between now and December 2009, we plan to create about 500 000 job opportunities." Instead people are left with economic devastation and the human tragedy of job losses.
The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement for 2009 spells out several issues of concern; the decline of income tax at R21 billion, VAT at R31 billion, and Customs and Excise Duties at R9 billion lower than estimated in February. This leads to the country's borrowing requirement of R285 billion against the R89 billion of the previous financial year.
The procurement system has to be reformed to avoid fraudulent activities in the departments, including R615 million paid to employees doing business with departments. The government is losing billions of Rand on consultants who are not hired temporarily for specific expertise, but are hired to perform the duties of the employed officials - which is a double expenditure.
Finally, there is a concern with regard to the exorbitant salaries of municipal managers, their expensive vehicles and their highly-paid bodyguards. These have to be monitored during these hard times. I thank you. [Time expired.]