... a constitutional amendment in terms of section 74(3) read with section 74(8), is pertinent to this House when we consider what we are meant to do with these decisions pertaining to our procedures governing how we pass laws in this Parliament.
The committee, during its deliberations, considered a number of written submissions. In a few submissions, concerns were raised relating to the possible future lack of service delivery by the province of the Eastern Cape, in particular in respect of health and education services. During the consideration of and deliberations on these submissions, we called for a report from the Department of Provincial and Local Government, which indicated no material breakdown in respect of service delivery levels in that area.
The committee noted that the province of the Eastern Cape compared favourably in relation to its spending trends on education, in relation to teacher-learner ratios, and on spending on health as it pertains to the province of KwaZulu-Natal or, indeed, other provinces.
Government has committed itself to ensuring service delivery to all of the people, regardless of which province they find themselves in. These efforts by government accord with the basic tenets of equality for all South Africans, no matter where people are located.
There are, of course, inequalities arising from our past that need to be addressed, particularly in the arena of capacity and skills. Government is intent on laying sound development platforms at local level. It is obvious that the old Matatiele Municipality of approximately 16 000 citizens could not hope to be a financially viable entity going forward. The briefing that the committee received indicated that there has been a significant committal by the newly constituted Matatiele Municipality to the development of infrastructure right up to 2009. This bodes well for the economic development of the area as a whole.
Some submissions, I am sad to say, detailed cultural and ethnic links with the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and highlighted the different cultural practices in the Eastern Cape. I think we must take time today to remember that, particularly given that we are on the eve of Heritage Day, unlike 13 years ago, today we celebrate a collective heritage as one people, whether on the shores of Durban beachfront or on the serene coastal spaces of the Eastern Cape; that there are no longer superior cultures, superior religions, superior races; that there will no longer, in this country, be spaces reserved for the exclusive use of one race or one ethnic group; that every culture, every religion and every language will cross-pollinate the length and breadth of this country as freely as the winds that caress our multitoned faces.
In Matatiele or in Sandton, in Khutsong or in Krugersdorp, let us embrace the diversity of our neighbours in the spirit of ubuntu; let us see with our hearts, secure in the knowledge that wherever each of us finds ourselves, no matter who we are, what we look like, what language we speak, we not only have the constitutional right to practise our traditions or speak our languages, but we are South Africans all intent on celebrating them too. I thank you for your attention. [Applause.]