Chair, Minister, I am happy that we do agree that there should be a revision of the equitable share in the manner that it is structured currently. The municipalities are chronically underfunded, yet they are at the coalface of service delivery. It is for that reason that we think they should get the lion's share of
the equitable share. Equally, we see no reason for the continuation of provinces as constitutional spheres of government. Do you not think that keeping provinces is an unnecessary strain on the fiscus? Is there a need for the continuation of provinces in the country, because everyone resides in municipalities, not in provinces? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL
AFFAIRS: Chair, hon member, I will agree with you that the municipalities are at the coalface of delivery and that the population actually sees government through local government. When they are angry with government, generally, they take it out on local government. They burn councilors' houses, municipalities, or whatever. So, on that, we agree.
We also agree that everything happens in the local space. We live there, business is there. Everything happens in the local space. Even all of us sitting here were elected through votes that took place in the local space. So, on that, we all agree.
We also agree that the municipalities are underfunded. Whether they will get a lion's share or a tiger's share, I don't know. [Laughter.] I don't know if they will get an elephant's share. All I know is that they are underfunded.
The issue of the existence or nonexistence of provinces is a story for another day and another place. It is not something that we can discuss here and now. Thank you.