Chairperson and hon members, our country's Constitution charges local government with the responsibility of delivering specified sets of services to the people. The institutional context in which this task is being undertaken has proved to have some unintended ineptness, which restricts the ability of the system to meet our expectations.
The particular issues of concern which are the subject of the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill of 2007 are embedded in the core local government legislation such as the Municipal Demarcation Act, the Municipal Structures Act, the Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Property Rates Act.
Shortcomings in the implementation of these laws have been identified and it is our considered view that there is an urgent need to take legislative steps in order to stabilise the system and to optimise its functional efficiency.
We came to this view after consultation with various stakeholders who generously shared with us insights that were gained in the crucible of practice. These stakeholders include national government departments and provincial departments responsible for local government affairs, as well as the SA Local Government Association.
In addition to enhancing local government's underlying systems and processes, we are also proposing to encourage utilisation of the ward committees as the primary institutional modality of rooting democracy amongst the people and for generating mass participation in matters of government.
The adoption of core local government legislation, as well as related legislation which falls under the functional domain of other departments, has rendered some existing legislation redundant. Such legislation will have to be repealed. At the same time, there is a need to ensure proper alignment between various pieces of legislation and therefore this is one of the objects of this legislation.
All these issues will exercise the collective mind of members of the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local Government who, in turn, will set the stage for us to meet again on the occasion of the Second Reading of the Bill. I wish to thank them in advance and to express a hope that we will interact on the Bill soon. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]