Deputy Speaker, according to the Auditor- General's report, many municipalities are regressing. In 2009, the late former Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, admitted to the SA Local Government Association that many of our municipalities are in a state of paralysis and dysfunction. He mentioned North West as a benchmark of local municipality paralysis.
In 2013, the Special Investigating Unit's report exposes corruption, maladministration, lack of capacity, fraud, mismanagement as well as political instability in many local municipalities and government in the North West province. Cope calls on the officials in positions to take much more responsibility for the promises they make and the expectations they create. Investigations and action against those found guilty of various transgressions need to be taken as quickly as possible to avoid spending public funds unwisely. Thank you.