Sihlalo, noNgqongqoshe bobabili ngithi okumhlophe kodwa. [Chairperson and both Ministers, I wish you all the best.]
Chairperson, these two Bills before us intend to give effect to the decision taken by government to reincorporate the Merafong City Local Municipality into Gauteng province.
In 2005, when government decided, after reviewing the municipal demarcation, to incorporate Khutsong and its municipality of Merafong into the North West, the IFP was vehemently opposed to this move. This was a wasteful and fruitless exercise and the ANC government met with absolute resistance that actually caused the people of Merafong to be violent.
Similarly, the IFP has condemned the intention of the ruling party to go ahead with the implementation of demarcation legislation with regard to Matatiele, despite the opposition and the wishes of the majority of the people in Matatiele. The IFP has at relevant times stood together with the people of Merafong City, and in particular the area of Khutsong. We therefore give unconditional support to the reincorporation of Khutsong into Gauteng. The question is, however, whether this government has learnt a lesson from it.
The controversy around Merafong and other remaining boundaries stresses the importance of public participation. Many people often confuse public participation with public hearings. The principle of public participation holds that those who are affected by decisions have a right to be involved in the decision-making process. Public participation implies that public contribution will influence the decision. Had the public participation been done prior, the emergence of violence and unrest in Khutsong would have been averted, but now a lot of damage to infrastructure and properties has already been done.
The real question in the eyes of the public is whether the reincorporation of Merafong into Gauteng province would have been possible without the violent protests. Is it because, for about four years since the incorporation, Khutsong has became synonymous with violent protests such as burning tyres, torching homes and breaking traffic lights. What is the message that this government is sending to the people out there in desperate communities? Is it that if people wanted their issues to be on the national map or immediately addressed, they must resort to violence? The reincorporation of other remaining boundaries, such as Matatiele, needs to expedited because familiarity breeds contempt.
Angisho nje ukuthi nomthandazo uyasho uthi: ngithethelele ngoba nami ngiyabathethelela abangonayo. [Let me tell you that even the prayer says: Forgive me as I forgive those who trespass against me.]
There was nothing wrong when the Minister stood up and asked for the people of Khutsong to forgive us for the mistake that was made. I would have stood up if he had said that the ANC is sorry and I would have said that he must take my speech as read. But because he said "We are sorry", it means that he was doing it for all of us even though we actually did not agree with that decision.
Asimemukele uNgqongqoshe uma ethi ucela uxolo. Kuhle lokho. [Let us accept the Minister's apology. That is good.]
Forgive us.