Chairman, National Treasury's recent initiative to encourage municipalities to raise their own funds, or revenue if you like, presents the legislature and government with an interesting concept, which, if pursued, carries with it substantial economic implications for local government.
Likewise the President, during izimbizo in the south of KwaZulu-Natal last weekend, alluded to the need for economic solidarity at the local village and community levels. Both views, beyond being complementary, acknowledge the need for critical appraisal of particular aspects of the current South African economic practices.
Despite promising economic growth, the economics of unfair competition and greed still persist throughout the entire strata of our society, accumulating the wealth and resources of the nation in the hands and control of a few.
On the other hand, in order for libertarian municipalism, as seen by the National Treasury, to succeed, it must be underpinned by participatory economic planning and activities that are geared at effecting a just distribution of the nation's resources. This potentially means that the workers and consumer movements, the unemployed and the poor people's movements, co-operative movements, environmental movements at local and municipal levels should agree to take part and contribute towards the development of the economic plan.
Nevertheless, the critical questions of co-ordination, co-operation, equity, racism and patronage powers between and within the various municipalities will still persist. I thank you.