Mevrou die Adjunkspeaker, sedert 1998 vra die VF Plus dat daar gekyk moet word na die salarisse, en ek wil byvoeg, die buitensporige salarisse van munisipale bestuurders.
So 'n week of wat gelede het die agb Minister aangekondig dat daar nou gekyk gaan word na hierdie munisipale bestuurders se salarisse en dat dit vasgestel gaan word. Die VF Plus verwelkom daardie stap.
As ons gaan kyk na plaaslike regering en veral na die finansile bestuur in plaaslike regering, dan sien ons in die Ouditeur-generaal se verslag, dat daar eintlik totale chaos is in terme van finansile bestuur. As ons gaan kyk na die uitstaande skulde van plaaslike regerings dan praat ons van 'n bedrag van meer as R40 miljard. Dit is amper twee keer so groot soos die verdedigingsbegroting.
Voordat die finansile bestuur in plaaslike regering nie behoorlik gehanteer word nie en belastingbetalers nie langer onbillik belas word nie, sal die VF Plus nie hierdie begrotingspos steun nie. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Madam Deputy Speaker, the FF Plus has been asking for salaries to be reviewed since 1998, and I want to add, the exorbitant salaries of municipal managers. About a week ago, the hon Minister announced that the salaries of these municipal managers were now going to be reviewed and that they were going to be fixed. The FF Plus welcomes that step.
If we look at local government and the financial management in local government, in particular, then we see in the Auditor-General's report that there is in fact absolute chaos in terms of financial management. If we look at the outstanding debts of local governments, then we are waking at an amount of more than R40 billion. This is nearly twice the size of the defence budget.
Until such time that financial management in local government is being dealt with properly and ratepayers are not being taxed in an inequitable manner, the FF Plus will not support this Budget Vote. I thank you.]