Honourable Speaker, Ms Nontembeko Boyce;
Honourable Deputy Speaker, Themba Mthembu;
Honourable Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube;
Leader of Government Business, MEC for EDTEA Hon S Duma;
Members of the Provincial Executive Council;
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature;
Director General, Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize;
Head of Department, Ms Carol Coetzee;
Senior Management
Traditional leadership;
People of KwaZulu-Natal;
Members of the media;
Members of the diplomatic corps;
Business leaders;
Distinguished guests;

1. INTRODUCTION
Honourable Speaker, I would like to begin with the wise words from the struggle icon, the former President of our glorious movement, the ANC and the Republic of South Africa His Excellency Nelson Mandela who once said, “Thus shall we live, because we will have created a society which recognises that all people are born
equal, with each entitled in equal measure to life, liberty, prosperity, human rights and good governance.” Therefore, in our view human rights and good governance means the delivery of a budget which resonates with the aspirations of the people and will contribute to equality, liberty and a prosperous society. Thus, presenting this budget speech in the Human Rights month (March) is very significant in the calendar of our country and in pursuit of our democracy. It reminds us of the atrocities committed by the apartheid regime against humanity. It is for this reason that the tabling of the budget today should also be perceived as a continuous response to the needs of the people of KwaZulu-Natal during their Human Rights month.

Full Speech Attached