Hon Deputy Speaker, the local sphere of government is the most important sphere in as far as delivery of services is concerned. It is also true that most of our municipalities are in a dysfunctional state, with incompetent people, and have become havens for
criminals whose sole intention is to loot public resources.
There are urgent reforms needed therefore to restructure the entire system of municipal governance, to guard against abuse of authority, against lapses in governance that lead to corruption, to regulate appointment, not just of councillors but of senior management too, and to have tough measures against those who engage in corrupt and destructive activities.
Instead of limiting itself to matters relating to the election of councillors and regulating the minimum number of councillors per municipality as this Bill does, it could have been used to comprehensively restructure local government. We do support the clarification of minor issues such as the date at which councillors become officially elected, and we welcome the proposal coming from the Northern Cape in particular, that there must be a minimum of 15 councillors per municipality. But these are barely enough to tackle the structural impediments to efficient local government and delivery of services. These relate primarily to lack of consequence management
in municipalities. The Auditor-General has for years identified problems that need to be resolved in each municipality, and year after year, these problems have not been resolved.
These problems, relating to lack of appropriate financial and management skills, political interference and infighting in councils have crippled local government in this country. As a result, the majority of municipalities are in a shambolic state, which suits the ANC's objectives of looting quite well. A comprehensive solution of these problems is required, and that includes tightening up legislative provisions and improving the administrative capacity of municipalities to collect the debt, fix infrastructure, and report regularly of service delivery challenges.
The solution must also entail a relook at the funding model of local government, to ensure that the bulk of the national budget actually goes to where it is needed the most, to municipalities who are at the coalface of service delivery. This must also entail asking questions about the continued relevance of the provincial sphere of
government, and the need for the discontinuation of provinces, to pay more attention to service delivery at a local level. We are in broad support of the amendments proposed in this Bill, but we urge that it could have been utilised to usher in much more comprehensive changes to the structure and functioning of local government.
In conclusion, we are asking all South Africans to vote for the EFF. [Interjections.] The EFF is the only party that will usher true freedoms to our people. Stop voting for this ANC, year after year, which continues to put our people into more poverty. It keeps on telling you, Thuma Mina! Thuma Mina! And they are continuing ...
IsiZulu:
... bayontshontsha ...
English:
... in that Thumaring of theirs. Therefore we are asking all South Africans to vote for the EFF. Thank you very much. [Interjections.]