Budget Vote Speech by the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Honourable Ms Lydia Johnson MPL on 9 May 2017
Honourable Deputy Speaker Dr B.M. Radebe
Honourable Premier Mr T.W. Mchunu
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Secretary to the Legislature
Senior Management of the Legislature
Senior Managers of the Government Departments
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Introduction
Honourable Chairperson, as we celebrate 20 years of the signing of our Constitution and 20 years of the establishment of the National Council of Provinces, we are thankful to our struggle heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives fighting for our liberation.
Today, through their determination and commitment to fight the injustices of the apartheid regime, we live in a non-racial, non-sexist and a democratic society where the rights of all citizens are respected.
As we look back with a sense of pride and satisfaction on what progress has been made by the democratic government, we are, however, mindful of more that still has to be done in our quest to improve the quality of life of the majority of our people.
Were it not for the visionary leaders such as Oliver Reginald Tambo and others who, during the times when the ANC and all other liberation movements were banned by forces of oppression, demonstrated strong leadership, this country could still be under the yoke of oppression and discrimination. O.R. Tambo’s leadership in those dark times saw the ANC being internationally accepted as an alternative government and indeed a government in waiting.
Today, we are proud to say that we now see a liberated and ANC-led government that is not only non-racial and non-sexist, but that is also perpetually pursuing a society in which a culture of non-discrimination is inculcated. We, therefore, cannot do any better than to salute and honour those who sacrificed to see us liberated.
Our gratitude goes to all of them, including our unsung heroes, whose lives continue to motivate us as we progressively lead our people to move with courage, even in such times when global economies continue to experience hardships.
It is for this very reason that I find it humbling and a true honour to be given an opportunity to address this august house as I present the 2017/2018 budget of the KwaZulu- Natal Legislature.
Honourable Chairperson, our economy is not exempt from the global economic turmoil and as such, in the past 12 months, our economy continued to grow at a rate of below 2%. Further to this, the recent downgrading by two international rating agencies is set to put a further strain on state resources required for service delivery. Full speech ... [PDF]
