Chairperson, the Constitution advocates a system of governance that shall avoid centralisation of power, and institute co- operative governance. Whilst all of the building blocks are in place the reality of the mechanics to make the system a success, though, has been sabotaged by a lack of capacity, skills shortages, competition rather than co-operation and minimal resources. These are among a number of factors that hinder the process. As marked out by the hon state President Thabo Mbeki to the NCOP last week, the weaknesses in the municipalities are a great threat to the country's democracy.
However, we believe that the efficiency of municipalities depends on the filtration of efforts from the national departments to the provinces, and then further filtrated to the municipalities. A common problem at municipalities is that section heads appear to be the only beneficiaries of training, and the infiltration of skills development appears to freeze at that level, neglecting to extend to the necessary levels where implementation is dispatched. Provinces need to workshop municipalities to bring them on board so that they may implement government policies at ground level. We have policies such as the enhanced extended discount benefit scheme that has been instituted since December 2005 and to date is still not operating at municipal level. As a result, we have prejudiced communities who are wrongfully forced to continue paying rentals that government has already served to subsidise. The MF finds that it is at this stage that we, as members of this House, play a vital role of oversight.
We need to go into areas and visit the operations of municipalities and the progress of communities and bring it back to the House where we can call on our executive to address the blockages in this filtration to the ground level. It is through this oversight that loopholes and shortfalls may best be attended to. Transparency may be strengthened, responsibility better co- ordinated and management improved. Co-operative government is the key to infiltration to a truly democratic development to a better life for all.