Hon Chair, the DA will be supporting the Bill. However, we are having to waste valuable resources and time in bringing this amendment to Parliament because 13 municipalities out of the 283 have failed to implement the Act, in spite of having five years to do so. The vital importance of implementing the new Act and valuation rolls has obviously not been on their priority list.
What is even more concerning is that no early warning systems were in place so that the district municipalities and provincial governments could get involved in providing assistance and capacity. If there were early warning systems, why did the information not filter through? Where were the reports about the noncompliance? Why were we not informed? Where were the MECs of local government to investigate, assist and inform?
These kinds of practices cannot be condoned. It is the property rates today; what will it be tomorrow? Municipalities have gotten away with it, so why not continue the trend? Where is the accountability? Have the municipal managers and mayors been taken to task? Have their budgets been approved? What role did National Treasury play? There are too many questions and not enough answers.
The Minister needs to take provincial governments to task about their lack of commitment and assistance in this regard. There are municipalities that are financially worse off but have still managed to comply. We commend those municipalities. However, we cannot say the same for the likes of Polokwane and Matjhabeng. Between the two of them, they will fall short of rates income in excess of R400 million should this Bill not go through.
There are, however, municipalities that have implemented very eagerly, like that of eThekwini. Their residential properties have been overvalued and ratepayers, especially retirees, have been taxed out of their homes while businesses are not paying their correct dues owing to the low valuations. One would have thought that by appointing valuers at an exorbitant cost of R200 million this would not have happened.
Many phasing-in problems were also encountered, particularly in farming communities where the new valuations made it especially difficult for emerging farmers to operate successfully. Furthermore, the 13 noncompliant municipalities are using valuation rolls that expired on 2 July 2009. This means that the rates that are currently being levied are in contravention of the Act, resulting in the Bill having to be implemented retrospectively.
Residents around the country are up in arms about service delivery. In the past few weeks we have experienced flare-ups in numerous townships, especially in Mpumalanga. The Minister needs to visit these hot spot areas urgently. Inadequate infrastructure, especially in water and sanitation, is fast becoming a problem that will result in an ecological disaster. Vandalism is increasing; damage to council property is on the rise; and the police seem not to be in control of the riots all because of a lack of resources. But who will be footing the bill for the replacements and the repairs?
A referendum was held in Moutse and over 74% of the voters favoured Mpumalanga. Minister, what has happened to the referendum in Matatiele that was going to take place on 12 October? What has happened to the principle The people shall govern, when they are not being heard? And why should the national executive committee be taking such critical decisions without consultation?
In the past months the Minister has only replied to two of my parliamentary written questions, and 25 are still outstanding, Minister. I hope and trust that the Minister will reply to them as a matter of urgency as it is important that we know how local government should be functioning. Thank you. [Applause.]