Mr President
Honourable Deputy-Speaker and
Honourable Members

1. The scourge of corruption: Zondo Commission

In 2016, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had the guts to lance the filthy boil of state capture. She has the thanks of this nation.

Since 2018, explosive testimony has confirmed many suspicions and revealed that what we conclusively knew of state capture in 2016 was but the tip of the iceberg.

For many years, some in power have committed corruption and some have allowed it to flourish. State resources have actively been diverted away from the people to line personal and political party pockets.

Mr President, there is more to uncover, and we must allow the Zondo Commission the time and resources to finish its job.

Ultimately, the money that was stolen must be returned to the people and the guilty must go to jail.

South Africa needs a competent government that can create decent living conditions and can advance the livelihoods of all our people, but especially the poor.

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) believes we should have a government of integrity and service delivery, we therefore say: “Mayibuye iSouth Africa yethu, emaseleni Mayibuye”.

2. The Coronavirus pandemic

With respect Mr President, with regards to the Covid-19 response, the coordination amongst ministries and the synergy between the various regulations, that were needed to brace the economy, were lacking. We have paid and will continue to pay a hefty price for these blunders.

For instance, according to the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM), three million people lost their jobs between February and April 2020 due to the pandemic and the lockdowns.

On the issue of Covid-19 and municipal elections, feasible or not, we call on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to call meeting of all stakeholders, including the Department of Health, to assess situation.

3. The environment, service delivery and living conditions

Mr President, South Africa is filthy. We and our children encounter rats, sewerage, rotten food, dirty nappies and used needles.

Much of the blame is to be laid at shoddy service delivery at municipal level and lax enforcement of bylaws. There is no excuse for this.

Speaking of living environments and shoddy serve delivery, I would like to call your attention to the plight of the people of Forrest Village in Eerste Rivier, who have been dumped there from different areas. They are without a school, clinic, old age home or a police station and need work.

Also, residents in Samora Machel, Khayelitsha, Delft, Mfuleni, Nyanga, Gugulethu and Ocean View please hear their cries about unemployment, crime and gang violence, lack of basic service delivery and the need for youth development programmes.

I thank you.