Hon Chairperson, to answer that: Even this House, the NCOP, has taken serious steps in making interventions in local government. We have created a working relationship with the SA Local Government Association. For the first time in the history of the NCOP, Salga councillors are participating in this House, even today. That councillor spoke here. If that is not honesty to the hon member, then I must ordain him as a pastor. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
We continue to enact laws that are pro-poor. We create structures and systems of governance that are effective, efficient, transparent and able to carry the goals and vision of the national democratic revolution. All these must, of course, be underpinned by what the hon Gunda is complaining about - the participation of our people in all matters that pertain to their aspirations for themselves, their generation, their motherland, the continent and the world.
The Freedom Charter of 1955 says this, in response to the hon Gunda. It is instructive to us as the ANC, and I quote: -All people shall be entitled to take part in the administration of the country.| That is exactly what we are doing. It says further: -All bodies of minority rule, advisory boards, councils and authorities shall be replaced by democratic organs of self-government.| That is what it says, sir. As the ANC, we have never deviated from this prescription of the Freedom Charter.
Furthermore, as we fought for in the Convention for a Democratic SA, Codesa, Chapter 7, section 152, of the Constitution clearly and categorically directs our work with regard to the third sphere of government. The ANC resolutions and policies - hon chairperson Mokgobi referred to them quite clearly earlier on - have been consistent in making a concerted effort to give expression to this mandate. We continue with such a legislative programme and policies, as Budget Vote 3 clearly demonstrates today.
Often our critics, like all the members who were negative about the progress that the ANC is making, would like us not to recall the painful past experience of our people as we, together with them, confront the difficulties we face today that result from that past. Of course, the question is why they do so. Perhaps the answer is easy: Because they are haunted by their own identification with the history of destruction of our motherland and its people.
It is easy to imagine why a photograph would mean such a lot to a desperate person, to the extent that they claim a serious contribution to the struggle of the oppressed people while, on the other hand, they vote against any matter of transformation that the ANC puts forward. That picture is now used to mislead our people. Just being in a picture with our stalwart, Helen Suzman, means a lot to them; it means a contribution to the struggle, or that they are for transformation. However, when they come here, they talk differently and vote differently. [Interjections.]
This history of destruction that I am recalling, which occurred until just before 1994, is mainly and critically characterised by the dispossession of land. It saw traditional communities, local government and people in general becoming landless, land use and spatial planning halted and water and food security affected. Neither infrastructure development nor economic advancement could take place under such situations.
In this history of destruction, we know that our country was divided and given new names: -colony|, -Boer Republic|, -Union|, -Bantustans|. Surely all of these affected social cohesion and nationhood. Certainly, that is the reality that the ANC is facing post-1994 and that the ANC is prepared to tackle on this path that has the clear destiny that I was talking about.
We believe that the allocations of Budget Vote No 3 will effectively manage to create the measures and interventions necessary to deal with the challenges confronting municipalities and traditional governance today, as well as going forward.
We note the allocations to the Municipality Infrastructure Support Agency, Misa, and the Municipal Demarcation Board for them to deliver on their respective mandates. Budget Vote No 3 is representative of two departments: the Departments for Co-operative Governance and for Traditional Affairs. We also note that the allocation that is given to the Department for Traditional Affairs clearly demonstrates the ANC-led government's commitment to improve the work of traditional leadership and their governance in our country. Thus it assists with the creation of social cohesion, which is what we are all about.
We are worried, as hon Mokgobi said, about the so-called service delivery protests. The Minister spoke at length about it as well. We are in full support of what he said. We are also worried that this is now being misused by bankrupt political parties to gun for votes. They are people who have nothing to offer our people. We are saying that the only way ... [Interjections.]