Chairperson, in 16 days from today the boundaries of some provinces will have changed, some for the good of the residents, but others not, and all this is as a result of the disestablishment of cross-boundary municipalities, which were unnecessary in the first place.
Provincial authorities in Gauteng gleefully made countless visits to parts that will cease to be in the North West come 31 March 2007. Those in the North West visit Khutsong, their only new entrants, with great trepidation as they are not welcome.
The unfortunate situation playing itself out in Khutsong is the result of the proverbial cutting of one's nose to spite one's face. Some people within the ANC had made it their business to label any part in the North West as a place of poverty, backwardness and hardship. It is for that reason that to the people of Khutsong it has come to be known as the province of little hope.
This is the time for leadership to prevail and to rise to the occasion and be seen to be attempting to resolve the impasse. There may be substance in arguing that the problems in the neighbouring Zimbabwe should be left to those people to resolve, but it does not go down well to read between the lines that the problems of Khutsong are left to the residents of Khutsong to resolve. The national government and the North West provincial government have to do all to quell the situation.
It is unfortunate to have the situation in Khutsong where councillors call themselves "leadership in exile", because they have sought refuge elsewhere and do not live in their homes, let alone their wards.
The people out there say that according to the ruling party they are in the North West, but according to the community they are still in Gauteng. That calls for all concerned to work together in the quest for a solution. [Time expired.] [Applause.]