The speech below was delivered by Shaun August, GOOD Member of Parliament during the Division of Revenue Amdment Bill today.
In a NEW ECONOMY, NEW TYPES OF JOBS must be created that contribute to the development of individuals, communities and an inclusive society.
15 July 2020
Honourable Members,
Government spending has been drastically re-aligned to prioritise our defence against Covid-19.
At the same time, even as we head for the peak of the pandemic, government must see beyond the disaster and lay the seeds for the economic revival that is to come.
This new economy must be different to the old economy.
The new economy has to prioritise uplifting the daily lived experiences and the dignity of poor people.
Yes, we must create and recreate jobs. But not the kind of jobs that keep most of our people firmly in their positions at the bottom of the social pecking order.
As we build the industrial sector and create infrastructure we must build new types of jobs and working conditions that contribute to the development of individuals, communities and an inclusive society.
Before we get there, the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill must contribute to strengthening our health system and prioritising the continuation of education.
Today, we are here to sign off on a bill that seeks to determine equitable slices of the revenue pie for national, provincial and local departments. Revenue that must improve peoples’ lives and meet our environmental obligations.
In order to maximise bang for our bucks, promote transparency and strengthen accountability, we must continuously re-examine and strengthen:
Reactive Controls
Corrective Controls
Internal Prevention controls and;
Supply chain management controls by using block chain.
It is not good enough for words like accountability, transparency and consequence management to only echo in these chambers.
If we allow this to happen the words become empty, and poverty, homelessness, hunger, under-education and inadequate health care reign.
Honourable Chair,
GOOD continues to call for the advancement of economic, social, environmental and spatial justice in our spending.
GOOD calls for contract and consequence management to be implemented across government departments.
And GOOD calls for corrupt politicians and civil servants to be prosecuted and sent to prison.
Simply put, South Africa cannot afford to spend more money on inquiries – where those questioned and prosecuted continue to walk free. And without facing real consequences that our criminal justice system should impose.
As we implement this budget, lets show South Africans that we are serious about spending every cent in their interest where it matters.
I thank you.
ENDS