Address by President Nelson Mandela on the occasion of the president's budget debate in the National Assembly
Address by President Nelson Mandela on the occasion of the president's budget debate in the National Assembly
20 June 1996
Madame Speaker;
Honourable Members;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Tomorrow parliament rises for the winter recess.
I am certain we will all agree that we have had lively, productive and
fulfilling engagement in these past five months.
Quite often, our national parliament has become the centre of attention. But
alas, not seldom this has been for the wrong reasons.
I am personally convinced that the session in this first half of 1996 has
been different in more ways than one. Even when parliament has not been the
dynamo of the nation's pulse, it has reflected that pulse in the content of its
discussions, in the depth of its investigations and in the decisive manner in
which it intervened on many a matter of national importance.
And so tomorrow Honourable Members go back for that prolonged and
invigorating interaction with their constituents, in the full knowledge that
they are not only making a positive mark on the course of South Africa's
history; but also that this is steadily but surely being acknowledged by all and
sundry.
Teen die tyd dat ons weer vergader, mag dit wees dat die Grondwetlike Hof al
oor die nuwe Grondwet uitspraak gelewer het. Dan sal ons verder versterk wees in
ons taak om ons samelewing te omvorm ter beswil en voordeel van almal.
Terselfdertyd, sal ons in verskeie opsigte weer 'n nuwe en verdere reis moet
aanpak op weg na die herskepping van politieke instellings om aan te pas by die
bepalinge van 'n nuwe Grondwet. Die doel en die oogmerk van al hierdie
ondernemings bly steeds om ons jong demokrasie onomkeerbaar te versterk en te
vestig.
Ongeveer veertig dae gelede, in hierdie gewyde saal, was ons as Grondwetlike
Vergadering by-een, en het ons tesame die hoeksteen gele van die Suid-Afrikaanse
demokrasie, mense-regte-kultuur en regspleging; en beslag gegee aan die inhoud
en styl van regering waarna ons strewe. Toekomstige geslagte sal met waardering
en bewondering praat van hierdie span wetgewers - uit die Senaat en die
Nasionale Vergadering - as die grondleggers van die demokratiese republiek hier
aan die suidpunt van Afrika.
Die Afrikaanse digter Van Wyk Louw het jare gelede in 'n gedig gevra:
"o wye en droewe land, alleen onder die groot suidersterre, sal nooit 'n
hoe blydskap kom deur jou stil droefenis?'n grootsheid van so suiwer glans, dat mense in 'n verre land wat van jou
naam die melding hoor, met wilde en helder oog sal staar?"
Vandag kan ons waarlik daarop aanspraak maak dat daar wel so 'n grootsheid
plaas gevind het in die vestiging van demokrasie in ons land. En wat ookal die
verskille ten opsigte van besonderhede wat daar tussen die politieke partye mag
gewees het; dit is gepas dat ons aan al die lede van die parlement se: veels
geluk op 'n groot taak wel gedaan!
Madama Speaker;
When we had the honour of opening parliament at the beginning of this year,
we observed with confidence that South Africa was on its way to a better life;
and we noted the determination among all sectors of society, infused with a New
Patriotism to build South Africa into a winning nation.
Our conviction today is even more unshakeable. To invoke a popular phrase, we
can say without any shadow of doubt that, within and outside government, things
are falling into place. The sense of purpose and direction that our country
evinces is more than just a matter of political optimism. It is real; it is
palpable; it requires to be harnessed for even better performance in all areas
of life.
When, Friday last, the National Assembly concurred on the contents of the
Macroeconomic Strategy for Growth, Employment and Redistribution, you put the
final nail on the coffin of any scepticism about the capacity of South Africans
to rise to the occasion. You confirmed once more that the confidence placed on
you by the electorate - the rich and the poor, the young and the old, women and
men - is not mirage in the imagination. You confirmed that national consensus on
the most basic questions facing the country is a living reality.
This you did because you keenly appreciate that no greater challenge faces
government and the private sector than the creation of jobs for the unemployed.
Jobs, jobs, and jobs are the dividing line in many families between a decent
life and a wretched existence. They are, to many, the difference between
self-esteem and helplessness.
In broad economic terms, the creation of jobs is, and should be, the basis of
a growing economy. Jobs are, in socio-economic terms, the major means of income
distribution.
In terms of governance, jobs and critical for service delivery and payment.
Within the context of peace and security, jobs are critical in the efforts to
eliminate crime.
Yes, the progress of our economy, the success of our democracy and the safety
and security of citizens rely in large measure on whether or not society has
afforded its members a means of livelihood and peace of mind about where their
next meal is going to come from.
The Macroeconomic Framework and the many programmes that you had occasion to
discuss during the Budget Debates do just this.
I wish to congratulate the teams in the various ministries for the
conceptualisation of this clear path for our nation; for a strategy that is as
much an expression of our New Patriotism as it is the platform on which this
patriotism can fully express itself in the blast furnace of hard work.
Now the framework has been set out. And it enjoys the broad support of the
overwhelming majority among various sectors and political schools of thought.
And through it, we can pursue growth and development with even more vigour; we
can realise the objectives of the Reconstruction and Development Programme with
a clearer vision about the economic balances that have to be struck in order to
succeed.
Honourable Members;
Let me reiterate that the goals of the nation have not changed. We seek a
better life through reconstruction and development.
We seek to create an environment in which citizens can enjoy their human
rights and enjoy a safe and secure existence. We are committed, together with
communities, to bring better health facilities and better education, to build
houses and to provide the services and amenities that citizens deserve.
Our desire to mobilise society to meet the objectives of the macroeconomic
strategy and other related programmes of government derives from our commitment
to the well-being of all citizens.
But we know that programmes, and frameworks, and strategies are just that
beautiful works of art and science that can count for nothing if they are not
brought to life by a determined people, bound together and inspired by a single
purpose. This is the test that our nation faces; and we hope that all sectors of
society, particularly the major role-players in the economy, have earnestly
started to examine the various ways in which they can contribute to the
realisation of this strategy, so that together we can unleash the growth
potential of our economy.
We all know where we want to go. The milestones have been outlined with lucid
and convincing clarity.
Yet we would be less than candid if we did not acknowledge that, reaching the
major summit we have identified for the turn of the century will require some
deliberate investment on the part of all those involved in the mainstream of the
economy. We use the world investment, in this sense, guardedly, because to
invest entails a measure of sacrifice and risk.
It is to invest in the future and in productivity, for employers to
contribute to the training of the work-force. It is to invest in lower prices
and increased demand, in restructuring and competitiveness for tariffs to be
reduced.
To exercise moderation in wage and salary increments is to invest in greater
capital injection, and thus create possibilities for hundreds of thousands to be
absorbed into the mainstream of the economy.
An approach to wages and salaries, and thus prices, which takes into account
the recent depreciation of our currency, will benefit society as a whole.
I raise these matters - and these are only some of the more critical ones -
because we should all frankly acknowledge that there will be sacrifice. And what
needs emphasis is that such sacrifice applies to all, in an integrated fashion -
and no one should seek to exploit the co-operation of others for narrow selfish
interests.
Madame Speaker;
It is to invest in better utilisation of our taxes, to restructure the civil
service in such a way that it is leaner, less burdensome and more efficient.
This will allow for more funds to be used for purposes that have direct social
benefit. It is to invest in better utilisation of public funds, to ensure that
there is stricter control of spending and not to allow things to continue simple
because they have always been there.
And let me emphasise that this framework calls for increased public
expenditure on investment rather than consumption, from the local level to
national government; from the departments to the parastatal companies.
The matter of the restructuring of state assets has been the subject of great
interest. Let me whisper to Honourable Members, beyond the earshot of Minister
Stella Sigcau. She warned me strongly that I should not under any circumstances
steal her thunder; because she is due to make a statement in her budget debate
tomorrow. She also warned me about not creating exaggerated expectations, and
muttered something about volatile markets, that I did not fully understand.
What is clear though is that the fundamental principle of restructuring -
including privatisation or some enterprises, strategic equity partner for others
and organisational restructuring - all these are government policy. I am
informed that substantial progress has been made in negotiations with the
unions. In any case, the decisions taken regarding Mossgas and the SABC regional
radio stations, as well as progress in the telecommunications sector are a
pointer to the many and varied forms that restructuring will take.
As in any government action, the aim here will not be to undermine any
role-player, nor to disadvantage communities who need and deserve services at
affordable prices.
From the reports I get from all the ministries whose tasks are directly
related to the macroeconomic framework, I am fully confident that government has
geared itself for the challenge.
The Public Works Department which is to finalise agreement soon with unions
on the guidelines for employment in Public Works Programmes; the Labour
Department which yesterday released the report of the Labour Market Commission;
the Trade and Industry Department which is working hard on tax incentives,
measures to assist restructuring and productivity, competition policy and so on;
the Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs Department which is
co-ordinating the infrastructural investment programme - from all these and
other departments there is a sense of urgency in what they are doing.
In general terms, we need to continually improve the mechanisms of government
to ensure better co-ordination, more integrated programmes such as the Maputo
Development Corridor, and improving capacity within the Presidency to ensure
such integration and efficiency.
All these are matters that the Presidency is seized with, so as to ensure
that the services we render the cabinet and government as a whole are in keeping
with the demands of the moment. In co-ordination with the Foreign Affairs
Department and others, we also have the responsibility of ensuring that the
goodwill and positive ground-swell we currently enjoy are fully taken advantage
of, including in the President's visits abroad.
I also wish in this regard to issue a challenge to all South Africans:
including political leaders, business-persons, visitors and employees abroad,
that our success in portraying who we truly are to the world depends on all of
us.
It is one thing for us to acknowledge our problems openly and frankly. Yet it
is another to engage in the kind of self-serving scepticism that has the
intended or unintended effect of discouraging prospective investors about the
real prospects that our country has. Our strength as a nation lies in
transparency and openness about our real difficulties and the solutions that we
seek. But this is worlds apart from an attitude of "beggar-thy-economy", simply
because there might be political and other differences on certain issues.
Agbare lede;
Ek het vandag die klem veral op die ekonomie laat val, omdat dit die
uiteindelike toets-steen vir ons sukses of mislukking sal wees. Aan die ander
kant, sal ons nie ons ekonomiese doelwitte kan bereik sonder doelgerigte en
volgehoue vordering in alle ander beleids-rigtings nie. En in die verband wil ek
ook graag weer beklemtoon dat die vyf maande sedert die opening van hierdie
derde sitting van ons demokratiese parlement, belangwekkende tye was. Dit was
inderdaad 'n bepalende moment in die geskiedenis van hierdie land.
Ons het, in besonder, groot en onomkeerbare stappe gedoen in die stryd teen
die vloek van misdaad en geweld waaronder ons land so swaar gebuk gaan. Ons het
'n gans nuwe fase betree in hierdie veldtog; en ons kon dit doen vanwee
verbeterde ko-ordinasie binne die regering; 'n toespitsing op dit wat voorkeur
verdien; verbeterde intelligensie-vermoe; en die lofwaardige samewerking van die
publiek.
Deur middel van die Nasionale Misdaad-Voorkoming-Strategie is 'n kragtige
raamwerk daar gestel vir samehangende optrede deur die polisie, die howe,
gevangenisdiens en die burgerlike samelewing. Die Polisie-plan wat verlede week
aangekondig is, het die voorkeur-terreine vir doeltreffende polisie-optrede
tydens die komende begrotingsjaar vas gestel - binne die raamwerk van die
Nasionale Misdaad-Voorkoming-Strategie.
Ek wil herhaal dat sukses in hierdie oorlog teen misdaad die ondersteuning en
samewerking van almal vereis. Hooghartige of afsydige swartgalligheid wat net
kritiseer of met gevoude arms eenkant staan, ondergrawe die land se pogings om
hierdie euwel hok te slaan. Die kanse op sukses kan net verbeter word deur
daadwerklike deelname - dit maak nie saak hoe krities daardie deelname is nie.
Daarom sien ons uit na die debat in hierdie Huis as 'n bydrae tot die
verbetering van die stappe wat reeds in werking gestel is.
The situation in KwaZulu/Natal is still a cause for great concern. However
there has been marked progress, particularly as a result of improved capacity
for intelligence and the use of focused task-groups. But we dare not forget that
the achievement of true peace in the province also depends on the political
parties, and I would take this opportunity to urge them once again to do their
utmost to ensure that next week's elections are conducted in a peaceful, free
and fair manner.
The advances we have made would not have been possible without the dedication
of the South African Police Service, and the support they have received from the
SANDF. It is for this reason that government, on review, decided that the
employment of some 40,000 members of the SANDF in support of the SAPS is still
needed. The reasons for this decision were delivered yesterday to Madame Speaker
and the Honourable President of the Senate.
I have taken note that the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence will be
tabling its Annual Report today. I would like to commend the committee for the
impartiality that it has displayed in this sensitive area.
Security resides also in knowing that never again shall our country be
subjected to rule by terror. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to be
congratulated for the way in which it is conducting its difficult task. We are
happy that all the major political parties have committed themselves to take
part in this process, and look forward to the submissions they will be making
during the coming weeks.
Still more important is the testimony of the victims. Their courage in
recounting their experience is helping us, as a nation, to confront the harm
that we did to each other in the past. In reliving their pain, they teach
heartrending lessons to us all, particularly the younger generation, blessed
with childhood and youth that is increasingly distant from such horrors.
For these reasons I would like to encourage all individuals who have accounts
of such abuses to come forward freely and make a success of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's hearing work.
We can also approach the future with confidence because of the steps we have
taken to address the needs of those who suffered most grievously under
apartheid: children, women and the youth.
The National Programme of Action on Children, launched last month, gives
concrete meaning to the injunction in our new constitution to make the best
interests of the child paramount.
When I opened this session of Parliament I expressed the fervent wish that
the session should not come to an end without the passing of legislation on the
Youth and Gender Equality Commissions. The first has been passed and the Youth
Commission will soon be able to begin its work. And I am given to understand
that you are finalising legislation for the second.
Madame Speaker and Honourable Members;
I am confident that parliament will rise for the winter recess content with
the work that you have done, proud to be of service to the people.
On my part, I have found these debates both daunting and challenging; but
above all a critical forum to account to you and the public, and a fountain from
which to draw the insights necessary to make the vision of a better life a
reality.
I thank You.
Issued by: Office of the President
