Chairperson, Minister and hon members, the DA has some reservations with regard to the Bill. However, I need to point out that this Bill is a very good one. It has some very good intentions in terms of bringing about certainty in the voting process.
We welcome the proposed gazetting of the electoral timetable. One of the basic principles of legality is certainty, and the electoral timetable gazetted and available to all role-players will achieve just that. Certainty in the notoriously uncertain environment of politics is rare.
Akuthenjwana xa kusiyiwa kulonyulo. [People do not trust each other prior to elections.]
We welcome the amendment of section 55 of the local government election legislation which makes provision for special votes. For the first time in the South African democratic dispensation, we have a special voting day on which people other than those like me can vote.
Akuthenjwana xa kusiyiwa kulonyulo. ... [People do not trust each other prior to elections.] ... security personnel as well as the IEC officials ... abantu abadala ... [... the elderly ...]
We will be very much part of ensuring that the special votes are carried out in a manner that is transparent, open and accommodates everybody.
Municipal government is the sphere of government that is very close to the people. These are the individuals who are elected directly to represent the people in the area in which they reside.
Kwaye yenye yezinto esiyibulelayo leyo yokuba sibenooceba abathi bonyulwe ngendlela eyakuthi isincedise ekukhawuleziseni ukuhambisa iinkonzo kwiindawo esihlala kuzo. Kuyeke ukuqhuma ngenxa yokutshiswa kwamatayari koomaLimpompo, Gauteng, njl njl. [Uwele-wele.] Siza kuqinisekisa into yokuba ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[It is one of the things that we are thankful for, to have councillors who are elected in such a way that service delivery in our communities will be accelerated. This will put an end to violent protests in areas like Limpopo, Gauteng, etc, which result in great pollution due to setting tyres on fire. [Interjections.] We will ensure that ...]
This is the first process of the first-past-the-post electoral system which I think we need to support it in the SADC region.
It is essential that as many people as possible participate in the election of their representatives as it is only at municipal level where people elect their people and know the people they are electing, unlike ...
... kungafani nabanye bethu abalapha abangaziwa nokuba bakhona kwiinqila zabo. [... some of us here who are not even known to their constituents.]
The number of voters has been declining over time and I think we need to encourage more and more people to register and cast their votes whenever the opportunity arises, so that power is returned to the people where it belongs, not to politicians.
The IEC has indicated that they will be conducting voter registration next year in February and March. I think that process is very important. We as the DA are going to participate on the ground and encourage as many people as possible to register ... ezilalini, ezilokishini, njl njl. Okokugqibela ke Sihlalo, kukucacisa nje ... [... in the villages, townships, etc. Lastly, Chair, just to clarify ...]
... one of the concerns we had in the process is that the presiding officers must not be given too much power. That is unnecessary. On election day there must be proper consultation with the party agents.
Sizakubacela ke abantu bethu ukuba bagade khon'ukuze singaqhatheki. Okukugqibela ... [We appeal to our members to keep a very close eye so that we are not cheated. Lastly ...]
... the national party liaison committee was never properly consulted on the matter and, for the next Bill similar to this one, we need the consultation to be done through a much better process. And, on that note, we declare our support for this Bill and wish the Minister good luck. Thank you. [Applause.]