Hon Deputy Speaker, the real issue underlying Matatiele's discontent is centred on issues of identity, not service delivery. In other words, people are saying that, in terms of identity, they associate themselves with KwaZulu-Natal, rather than the Eastern Cape. This is an argument centred on emotion. It is an argument where people are saying they have a preference for where they want to live, because they have positive associations with one province over another. They feel more connected with a specific province and, all things being equal, would prefer to live in the province of their choice.
This is a complete anathema to this government. The government refuses to acknowledge that such feelings have any merit. In fact, the ANC denies the validity and even the legitimacy of such arguments, stating, as if this has any relevance at all, that we are all South Africans. Yes, of course we are all South Africans, but what has that got to do with the fact that within one country, one can have additional loyalties?
The ANC feels very uncomfortable with this. It is so centrist in its mindset, so unitarist in its approach to governance, that it fails to comprehend that regional and local identities can legitimately exist within the country alongside a common national identity. This is false thinking, and it is this type of false thinking that has the ANC dismissing all arguments centred on identity, acknowledging only arguments based on delivery and then promptly saying that this can be addressed by improving delivery from the Eastern Cape.
I have just come back from a study tour to Germany, which, like South Africa, is engaged in a review of the federal system. It is striking how differently they deal with these things. There, they really consult the people ...