Hon Chair, hon members of the House and guests in the gallery, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs has a constitutional as well as a legislative mandate with regards to the functioning and development of local government systems.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, has to ensure that all municipalities perform their basic responsibilities and functions without compromise.
Accountability, according to Municipal Finance Management Act, MFMA, is not enforced and the rule of law is not respected or honoured by those entrusted to ensure that there is compliance to the laws of this land.
According to the findings of the Auditor-General, the financial status of South African municipalities has become worse. The overall decline and the unbearable state of deterioration in the audit outcomes is proof of lack of oversight, control and discipline by the various local government role- players. The evidence speaks for itself. From a total of 257 municipalities that were audited, those with clean audits regressed from 14% in the previous financial year to 8%. This financial regression of municipalities across the country continues to worsen, directly affecting the delivery of services to the citizenry of South Africa.
In the 24 years of democratic local government, Cogta could not pursue the mandatory core function to implement and monitor the implementation of national policies and legislation resulting in the collapse of local governments and subsequent failure to deliver essential services.
Legislation from Cogta during the 5th Parliament has also been flawed. The Municipal Demarcation Act, the Traditional Khoisan Leadership Bill and the 2017 Constitutional Court ruling based on procedural flaws on the 2011 Amendment Bill of the Municipal Systems Act being unconstitutional. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to be resolute and ensure a new respectable era of co-operative governance as envisioned in our Constitution. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chair, members, the ANC government's greatest failure in the conditions of our municipalities has collapsed service delivery and most municipalities are dysfunctional, unsustainable and some even bankrupt.
We cannot approve a budget that will be squandered by municipalities where no consequent management is implemented. The ANC-led municipalities where cadre deployment and tender corruption is the order of the day and the moral compass seem to have been lost. These are municipalities where the Auditor-General's reports are blatantly ignored.
Out of the 257 municipalities that were audited, only 18 of them managed to produce quality financial statements, performance reports
as well as comply with all key legislation thereby receiving clean audits. This is regression from the 33 municipalities that received clean audits in the previous year.
There is a clear indication that many employees who are employed by municipalities do not possess the necessary skills to perform their tasks and we submit that this is due to cadre deployment and affirmative action which does not favour merit above race.
With the high rate of fraud, corruption, poor debt collection and supply chain mismanagement, it is no wonder that there are no funds left for service delivery.
Afrikaans:
Met die vergrype in wanbestuur wat steeds plaasvind, word daar vandag in die J B Marks Plaaslike Munisipaliteit in Noordwes oorweeg om sekuriteitsbeamptes aan te stel om oor munisipale eiendomme te bewaak. Hulle moet aangestel word teen R600 000 per maand. Dit is as gevolg van populistiese onrealistiese uitsprake oor grond.
By Stilfontein in Noordwes en die Khuma-uitbreiding word 'n hele gemeenskap op die oomblik gyselaar gehou om die regering se aandag
daarop te vestig dat geen ontwikkeling die afgelope paar jaar daar plaasgevind het nie.
Suid-Afrika kan nie bekostig dat die ekonomie skade moet ly weens protesoptrede soos hierdie, as gevolg van 'n kultuur soos hierdie wat soos 'n verwoestende vuur verslind om sy selfsugtige lus, selfregverdiging en eiegeregtigheid te bevredig nie.
Ons kan nie rels maak soos ons aangaan nie. Ons kan nie toelaat dat munisipaliteite nie optree volgens die relboek nie. Netso kan hierdie Huis nie aangaan om rels te buig soos wat dit sekere mense pas nie. Dankie.
Chairperson, the ANC rises in support of Budget Vote for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The Vote finances critical programmes to effective delivery of services in provincial and local governments.
In the financial year, Cogta will strengthen co-operative governance and improvement of relations between municipalities and the departments. The Community Work Programme is integrated urban development framework, which is also part of the programme that is led by municipalities and its economic development.
The Back to Basics is key in Cogta's discharging of its mandate and building capacity at local government level. The ANC acknowledge the progress made within the 25 years and noted the challenges highlighted by the Auditor-General, which include lack of financial, technical and administrative capacity as identified in most and dysfunctional distress municipalities.
We call upon the spheres of government to take note of the recommendations made by the Auditor-General.
IsiXhosa:
Sitsho sisithi ke Sihlalo ohloniphekileyo, le voti sithetha ngayo yenye yezinto ezizakuqinisekisa ukuba kukho uthatho-nxaxheba lweeNkosi nokuqiniswa kweziseko zothatho-nxaxeba lweeNkosi koomasipala. Loo nto ke izakuqinisekisa ukuba iinkqubo ezikhoyo koomasipala ziyakwazi ukuya kuluntu ngokubanzi, ngentsebenziswano ephakathi kweeNkosi kunye nooceba.
Siye savana ke singurhulumente okhokhwelwe yi-ANC ukuba sizakuzithathela ingqalelo izinto ezithe zamiswa ziiNkosi, eziyi miceli-mingeni kwaye siqinisekisa ukuba i-ANC izakuzithathela ingqalelo ezo zinto kolu hlahlo lwabiwo-mali.
English:
The ANC-led government introduced and implemented the Back to Basic programme guided the spirit of Batho Pele. This principle entailed a commitment to public service integrity and dedication to fight corruption - a hands on approach to deal with local government challenges, public participation and people-centred approach. Our commitment to this principle will contribute towards the required status of local government. It is about getting the basics right, building institutional resilience and administrative capacity for improved holistic and functional municipalities. I thank you Chair. [Applause.]
Hon Chair, I just want to have clarity. The declaration by hon Ncitha was for which faction? [Laughter.] The Ace Magushule one or the Ramaphosa one? [Interjections.]
On a point of order, Chair. I am not representing factions here; I am representing the ANC. Thank you. [Applause.]
Declarations of votes made on behalf of the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus.
Now to the voting. The bells will be rung for two minutes. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, why? There is no call for a division? [Laughter.]
It is because this is a procedure that you people thought was appropriate.
Yes, but Chairperson, the results haven't been put to us and the division hasn't been called. I am confused as to why the bells are now suddenly being rung. [Inaudible.]
Chair, we only have the bells ringing when there is a call for a division. Now, we don't have a call for a division. If you are were saying the Ayes have it or the Noes, then we can take it from there.
Okay. As I understand it, the Ayes have it. You call for a division. Thank you very much. The bells will be rung for two minutes.
Division demanded.
The Council divided.