Chairperson, I would like to commend the Minister for the amendment. I think one has to go directly to the DA that is making a big noise here: The main reason this Bill is to be amended is to make sure that there is a specific section - clause 6 - that provides for compulsory establishment of ward committees by municipalities, whereas in those municipalities where the DA is in power such a process was not allowed. The same applies to the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal.
This Bill is intended to make provision for the out-of-pocket expenses of ward committee members. As you would know, during our last visit to the municipalities in 2003, this was an issue of concern.
The Bill is also intended to make sure that the duties and powers of ward committees, the inclusion of the deputy executive mayor, as well as the participation of municipal staff members in the national, provincial and municipal elections are all looked into.
The other reason is to make sure that all the apartheid laws whose legislative process the very DA was party to, are to be dealt with and to be changed, together with the by-laws that were undermining the developmental agenda of the ANC. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]