Deputy Speaker, actually, when you want to discuss this Bill, you need to start by understanding
the history that the country is coming from; that the apartheid has left its imprint on South Africa's human settlements and municipal institutions.
The transformation requires an understanding of the historical role of local government in creating and perpetuating local separation and inequity, and the impact of apartheid on municipal institutions. Equally important, is the history of resistance to apartheid at the local level, and the struggles against apartheid local government thereof.
In 1994, the advent of democracy in South Africa changed the regulatory framework of local government. South African citizens were freed from the shackles of an oppressive regime and experienced democratic rule. Freedom from apartheid came with promises of a better life for all and the realisation of constitutionally protected human rights.
The preamble to the Constitution lays the foundation for an open and democratic society with a bill of rights, recognising the injustices of the past and aiming to
improve the quality of life of all citizens. The majority of the electorate supported a constitutional mandate, which set the foundation for democracy and bestowed a positive obligation on all spheres of government to ensure the enforcement of the bill of rights, as well as an obligation to ensure that the majority of people experience a better life for all.
It is against this backdrop that Transition Act, 1993; the new Constitution envisaged a complete transformation of the local government system. In terms of the new Constitution, local government is a sphere of government in its own right and no longer a function of national or provincial government. Local government has also been given a distinctive status and role in building democracy and promoting socio-economic development.
The proposed amendments to the Municipal System Act, promotes certainty on some matters and strengthen oversight and governance in municipalities. In the main, the Bill speaks to two fundamental areas. The first fundamental area is the electoral matters where you allude of the vacancies as the previous speaker spoke
about; the formulas, the issue of the time frames and the party lists.
The second one that is important is the issue of governance matters. In governance; I want to pull one important part which is the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, MPAC. The MPAC will assist in getting better audit outcomes amongst other issues like the quorum, decision, and the abolition of plenary type.
However, we have noted the challenges experienced by plenary type municipalities including limiting of executive authority to the full council, and it is unable to delegate its executive responsibilities to any individual council or any of its committees in strengthening oversight and governance in municipalities and ensuring service delivery for all.
The Municipal Structures Amendment Bill seeks to do away with the plenary type as I have said; so that it enables the system to flow smoothly. This will contribute to municipal council to improve oversight over the administration and the executive by implementing critical
checks and balances to ensure that the municipality implement the constitutional mandate, as accountability is one of the tenets of a democracy.
Therefore, improving oversight in local government to holds the municipal executive and the administration accountable should be the pre-requisite to implement the constitutional mandate of local government.
In conclusion, the ANC is convinced that the proposed amendments provide for solutions and clarity which will restore the confidence of the majority of our people in our municipalities, as the primary delivery machinery of the developmental state at a local government level. It is for this reason that on the 08 May we must go all out in our numbers and vote for the ANC to ensure that all these Bills get implemented as required. I thank you, Chair. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
IsiZulu:
USEKELA SOMLOMO: Hhayibo! Kahleni bo.
English:
How do you scream like that? That is out of order. Ao! Please man; just lower your voices here.
The MINISTER OF COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS RESPONSIBLE