BY
HON MB GWALA MPL, KZN LEGISLATURE
Hon Speaker,
The IFP unlike the ANC cannot denied the fact that since 1994 we have been in government particularly in the National Government as well as in KwaZulu Natal. The Prince of KwaPhingangene has been the minister of Home Affairs for 10 years. He served five years in the government of national unity and also served another five years by invitation because of his vast experience in running a government successfully. It is for this reason, why we take the fully responsibility of what is going on since 1994. The ANC fails to swallow a bitter pill in accepting the fact that they were part of IFP led administration. Unfortunately, when the ANC is in trouble it creates an impression that all of us are part of its failures. When the ANC succeeds it praise itself and award itself with credit. This is a shameful blunder on the side of the ANC.
The problem we have is the ANC that does not listen, it has pride with self-aggrandisement on the part of their leaders. I want to say the attitude of the ANC is hostile and shocking, which shows a lack of willingness to deal with challenges of the day.
This does not end there; the ANC does not take into account any contribution from the opposition. The opposition Parties are totally ignored. The ANC only parades and brag about its achievements.
Any advice coming from the opposition is being overlooked and trashed by the ANC. If you can go through the Hansard recordings since the ANC came into power not even a single contribution by the opposition has been taken seriously. Instead when MECs respond they only recognise the contribution by ANC members and contribution made by opposition parties are rejected with contempt it deserves.
South Africa is going through a very difficult financial period due to VAT increase. However, in light of this troubling and difficult time that we are going through - increasing VAT by 1% has a very negative impact on poor households. Food and petrol are expensive enough! When petrol goes up so does food. But when petrol comes down food continues to go up! Surely, tax has not increased in about 25 years but neither has our economy.
When we talk about finances and economy we put it at the door step of the ANC and that the ANC must take the full responsibility of these failures because they have ignored constructive engagement and constructive opposition.
The unfortunate part is that the ANC does not even reject the contribution from opposition but it also views the opposition as a pack of fools brought into this House.
While the IFP accepts VAT increase by 1% as part of trying to rescue the country from the junk status if the ANC listened to our clarion call that they must clamp down corruption trend in every government department instead the corruption starts right under the nose of the political heads and all heads of government departments, to a cleaner where even toilet paper rolls bought by the state funds are stolen every day. There is English saying that says “The fish rots from the head”.
Instead of government creating more jobs and grow economy the same government spend money to unnecessary things, such as bailing out the embattled SAA and Eskom saga where an ANC cadre worked for six months and given a golden handshake of R30 million. If the ANC administration has heeded to the IFP call to clamp down corruption that is rampant in this country there would be no need for VAT increase. It is incumbent upon the people to organise themselves and campaign against this sort of abuse of power and public funds.
I agree with the IFP President, His Royal Highness, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi when he said at an IFP rally held yesterday in celebrating workers day, I quote “That is not the way things should be in a free and democratic country. With our economy should have grown enough by now, after 24 years, to support extensive training programmes and skills development projects, so that all our people who are able and willing to work, can find a paying job”
Indeed, there is still a lack of service delivery in many parts of the province. And generally, water services have collapsed in some sections of the Province because existing infrastructure has not been maintained nor new infrastructure developed to meet our growing needs. In some places, there is no water at all. And unless drastic measures are urgently put in place to arrest this situation, multitudes must forget about ever having clean water supply.
There is an urgent need to prioritise this matter as the situation in many areas remains critical. People can tolerate slow development of infrastructure but they cannot survive without water. We have seen thousands of animals die and crops being lost over the past few years due to the drought.
Corruption is rampant in many government departments including Finance Department as well as in municipalities.
The KwaZulu-Natal has a budget of R122 billion. The budgets usually tabled in this House were full of empty promises with no call to action. Promises are made that money will go to areas that need it; overspending will be curbed; expenses will be cut. We have heard these promises before. The budget assumes that if we simply hang on, and focus on basic services, the growth will come. But how can it do so without solid policies and strategies in place to stimulate growth?
Notwithstanding several warnings by the IFP in the past, the government is swiftly running out of money. The ANC has forgotten that to be able to spend there must be growth. Without economic growth government cannot spend.
Yes, let me say it openly, it is the ruling party's political greed that determines the management of state funds in this province rather than the needs and aspirations of the people of KwaZulu Natal.
The looting of trucks happened in Mooi River recently and elsewhere is fuelled by the ANC’s culture of violence which started before 1994 where the UDF supported by the ANC used rudimental weapons, petrol, tyres and matches with a belief that it is a way to liberate this country. Now the chicken has come home to roost. Those activities done by the UDF has become a culture of demanding service delivery which has now come to haunt us.
The IFP is prepared to participate fully in working together with government in trying to bring peace and stability. Our President, Prince Buthelezi always say that I quote “If the President fails, the whole country fails”. If the ANC as a leading party fails all of us we become failures. The ANC must take us into confidence that we are not an enemy but our intention is to work together to develop this country. ( Masisukume sonke sakhe )
Hon. Speaker it is the IFP’s prayer that in this term, this government will begin to take seriously the voice of those who are this side of the House because our contributions are meant to ensure that KwaZulu-Natal gets the best.
I thank you.
