I think as government, we realize and are cognisant of the problems that are affecting municipalities as shown by the audit outcomes. As government, we have accepted that we cannot make this a problem of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. That's why the President said that we must have a team of departments - a committee of departments - that would work with Cogta so that we can make a speedy intervention.
Now, we need to deploy people with technical expertise in various sections and programmes of municipalities; whether financial or technical so that we support those areas. Where there are problems of service delivery because of the lack of right personnel and projects are uncompleted, this team will intervene to support the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
We acknowledge the fact that there might be a challenge with regard to leadership in all our municipalities; the management of the affairs of municipalities is not at its best hence this team supporting Cogta will come close to that space.
We are aware of the many service delivery protests that have turned violent and it is important that as government we shouldn't leave these service delivery protests just to go unabated. It is important that this committee must go in and seat down with the people, the municipality, the province and national department together to solve the problem. Thank you very much. [Applause.]