Thank you very much. I believe that these municipalities belong to the people. Why I am saying that? It is because everyone who is there who is a leader in that municipality in one way or another has been elected by the very same people. There are meetings in wards, there is a ward councillor directly elected by the people in one way or another. That is why there is a by-election declared if that member probably happens to die, resign or any of that. That means that, that institution belongs to the people.
You are also here, yourself, because you have been voted by the people. They voted your different political parties and your political parties have brought you here but the strength of you being here is behind your political party. So, this institution, this House, belongs to the people. You must not forget when seating here that, "ah well, I have arrived here on my own" making a mistake. You represent the people. So, it can't change. I don't understand when you say " ... take back this municipalities to the people" What do you mean? Because, people have participated in electing those people that are there and they have a right to recall them if these people are not serving them.
However, we are not running away from the challenges that are experienced there. Remember, you can't just jump into a municipality and say that do this and that. That is a separate sphere of government. For us to institute section 139, you also participated as a House here. You also participated and you are also having a responsibility to visit that municipality that you have agreed that, no, we are putting you under section 139, and what are you doing? It is not like provinces will sit and say that they are putting this municipality under section 139, they must get your concurrence. You must agree or disagree with them. So, collectively you have a responsibility.
However, that does not mean that I want to run away from my responsibility. We have flagged those municipalities and we are working on a programme. We need to move a bit faster to ensure that we restore the services. Your concern is our concern and it is the concern of our people. We can't run away that these municipalities are under section 139. They have challenges of leadership, politically and administratively. The services in certain instances have collapsed, that is why they were put under section 139, so that there should be monitoring and evaluation of all the challenges that they are facing and they must be supported.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, is doing everything it can do to support these municipalities. We will increase our pace. We know about this problem. Thank you very much. [Applause.]