Chair, I think probably there is a certain amount of effort that all of us must put as a country to try and address that sphere of government. That sphere of government is
pulling very hard and it is at the call phase of our people. Our people some of them are not paying for services and some are destroying the very same property that belongs to municipalities. So, these municipalities are pulling very hard. Now, it doesn't help us to say that it is a sphere of government on its own and we can't interfere. The attitude should not be that. We must assist and support all the time because in supporting the municipalities we are ensuring that the citizens get the necessary services through municipalities. Of course, we must try very hard that those people that we elect to lead those municipalities should lead them with honesty and be credible, credible.
We must get people who are professionals that will deal with electricity and who will deal with services that must go to the people. We must transform municipalities gradually. Maybe we are impatient. Looking at the time of 25 years, it is not enough time to say we can have formidable and credible institutions of local government. They are still in the making and we must ensure that we learn from the challenges that we experience and we strengthen those municipalities. However, let us not really focus on the legislation and say that it is not our baby. All of us must take it upon ourselves to support municipalities.
I am saying to the hon members here that, it is not enough only to sit here and grant section 139 which has been applied by province, and then we say that it is enough that, well we've put that municipality under section 139. You must have an interest to go and see and probably put down some proposals back to that province and to that municipality that we are proposing one, two, three and four. As a House, you must visit. You can't just put someone in jail and not visit him there and you are the last person to say, no, out by section 139. I must go and see you whether you are improving or not. You must take a certain time to improve, otherwise, the longer you take the longer people are suffering. That is my plea but the local government should be our business. You are here today because in the morning you had water to wash yourself because there is a local government that has provided you with the water.
If you don't have water you will start feeling the pinch that somewhere is wrong in this institution, then you will go and ask. What about those people who are not getting water? What about those people who are experiencing electricity cuts because of the inefficiencies of our municipalities? So, it is a problem that we must all solve and take it upon ourselves to ensure that our people receive services.
As long as you are in the structures of government, it remains your problem. If you are in the National Assembly, or in the NCOP, or in the province, or in the municipality, or in the national government, it remains your problem. You can't be grandstanding and watch. All of us, even our citizens are called upon to assist municipalities to deliver the services. That is why we say to them that they must not destroy property and they must pay for their services. This is your part that you can bring to ensure that there is stability and continuous service delivery that is not interrupted. Thank you very much.