SOEs a strain on public funds

Note to Editors: The following speech was delivered in Parliament today by DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Erik Marais MP, during the Budget Vote on Public Enterprises.
House Chairperson, today we debate the budget vote for the Department of Public Enterprises.
As we all know the objective of the National Development Plan (NDP) is to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030, which is a mere 13 years away.
After 23 years of ANC rule, there has never before been a bigger need to rescue our beautiful country. South Africans have been left with empty promises, lip service, and hopelessness.
If we continue to allow the ANC to hijack South Africa at every opportunity available to them, what will the state of our Nation be in 13 years’ time?
It is a chilling realisation and I can confidently say, the people of South Africa have had enough and are not as ill-informed as the governing party believes.
More and more of our people are realising that the DA is the only party to reignite hope and inspiration and has the will to build a better future for South Africans. The Western Cape, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Johannesburg have already become testament to this.
The aim of the Department of Public Enterprises is to drive investment, productivity and transformation in the state-owned entities (SOEs) in order to unlock growth, propel industrialisation and most importantly, to create jobs and develop skills.
House Chairperson, how prosperous would South Africa be if the ANC government placed as much effort into proactively achieving this essential aim as they do in protecting the personal pockets of a select few?
It is crucial that this Department functions optimally to stop the misappropriation and misuse of taxpayers’ money once and for all.
House Chairperson, can the ANC in this House truthfully and in good conscience tell the people of South Africa that the R266.7 million allocated to this Department for the 2017/18 financial year will be constructively used to give effect to the NDP ‘s objective of creating jobs and providing skills development?
I pose this question because this is the nature of interrogation from our constituents and because the DA believes in shared prosperity for all South Africans.
We have a constitutionally mandated duty to answer them, as millions of South Africans see the DA as the only alternative to the ANC.
House Chairperson, it is stated that clear transparent governance combined with stable leadership will enable SOEs to achieve their developmental potential.
However, this has not been the case.
Look at Denel for example. It came to light in April 2016 that the suspended CEO of Denel had been officially fired, despite not being found guilty of any misconduct.
The timing of his discharge is suspicious and lends credence to the notion that his dismissal was linked to his refusal to broker arms deals with the politically connected Gupta family.
The CEO, Mr Saloojee, the CFO and a group company secretary were suspended in September 2015 while the board examined a number of allegations related to irregular acquisitions.
However, it is widely speculated that the suspension of these three officials was related to the creation of the new company, Denel-Asia, and the proposed joint venture with VR Laser Asia, a Gupta-linked firm.
Denel has been in hot water for this dodgy joint venture which has direct links to Duduzane Zuma and the Guptas.
Treasury has finally put this deal to bed after many months of back and forth between Treasury and Denel. However, Denel is appealing this decision.
House Chairperson, if I may, I also urge Minister Lynne Brown to be mindful of her oath, the plight of the most vulnerable South Africans and the urgency with which we have to collectively rescue South Africa.
Our country is suffering at the hands of a select few, protecting one. The world has lost confidence in our once great rainbow nation and we find ourselves in a national despondency.
While still in a position to bring about real positive change, I ask you to prioritize the over 55 million South Africans Suffering due to patronage politics.
I thank you.