Speaker, Cope is concerned about the fact that the majority of South Africans are unhappy about the level of service delivery by the local government, and it fears that this could spark more violence ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
This was illustrated recently in a scientific survey conducted by TNS that indicated that more than 51% of South Africans in the metro regions are dissatisfied with the level of basic service delivery provided mostly in ANC municipalities and by the ANC government.
The international benchmark correlation between mass dissatisfaction and violent protest is 30%. It is therefore no surprise that we are witnessing an escalation in service delivery unhappiness and protests on the back of broken promises by the ANC government. This is the result of the dishonest behaviour of members in the executive at various levels, which empowers friends and family while relying on a cult of personality surrounding the President to sway the masses to yet again support the ANC.
Such a system is unsustainable and cannot be trusted to deliver basic human necessities such as clean water, the prospect of meaningful employment, a clean environment or the responsible management of state resources.
Cope stands for more authority to be given to local government; for the position of the ward councillors to be part-time, so that money can be spent on service delivery; and for a change in the electoral system to a constituency-based one, so that the interest of the communities are directly represented in Parliament. Thank you. [Time expired.]