Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi said South Africans should begin to see who has their best interests at heart.
Speaking during the budget vote for his department, Buthelezi reminded parliamentarians about a statement made by former president Nelson Mandela about moving away from pessimism, division, limited opportunities, turmoil and conflict after casting his vote in 1994.
“It is true that in 2024, 30 years after that, we have got people who are left before 1994 who can stand here on this podium and tell the people of this country that this government shall never work, but it does not concern us,” he said.
“We are not worried and we are not going to be shaken. This country is going to be taken forward. We have a commitment to our people. We have got a commitment to our constituencies,” he said to heckling from the EFF and MK Party MPs.
“And we shall not allow it to be derailed, Deputy Speaker, by people who are harbouring bitterness because of their poor political judgment. They decided not to be part of rebuilding our country and as a result, they are (out) in the cold,” Buthelezi said.
His utterances attracted points of order from the EFF and MK Party members with some speaking in IsiZulu in the absence of interpretation services.
There were heated exchanges between Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet and the opposition parliamentarians as she tried to control the House amid calls by some MPs that Buthelezi stop making references to the Government of National Unity.
In his earlier address, Buthelezi said they would be geared towards regaining public trust in institutions that are mandated to serve the people.
“A professional, ethical and capable public service that is responsive, and that works, must become a reality in this era we are entering.
“For this cannot remain a mere pipe dream 30 years on into our democracy,” he said.
The minister also said they wanted those who are serving the public do so with a renewed sense of pride and respect for their profession.
“Service is not a job, being in service to others means that you have answered a calling.”
“We must ensure that those who live in rural areas will get the same quality service, whether they are in rural Mthwalume or urban Gqeberha.”
He warned that there would swiftly act against those who abuse the state and that disciplinary processes would be completed timeously.
Cape Times