Hon Speaker, well, the hon member is really very specific about the months that it takes. Now, generally, I am aware that government's machinery moves very slowly. But I can't confirm the months taken in specific departments because I don't have that report - not unless I answer the question which is an exaggerated one. I say this all the time: Government must do things differently. What delays things in government has been a long-established bureaucracy. You have to go through certain processes. And, I'm sure, if we left aside the time you are talking about, if we did not go through the rigorous kind of investigating of a person who is coming in - if we just said that because a person says he or she has a certain qualification, they must take up the post because of time constraints - you would say that you employ people that you are not sure about.
The system of government, of course, operates in its own way. I don't accept that we should take so many months to employ one person. I think it is wrong. And if it is a reality, it needs to be corrected. Certainly, as you have made the point, I'm going to follow up to check if this is the reality, because if it is, we need to correct it. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Progress since government intervention in Limpopo and Eastern Cape
11. Mr A M Mpontshane (IFP) asked the President of the Republic:
What are the main details of the progress that has been made since the Government's intervention in (a) Limpopo and (b) the Eastern Cape in terms of Section 100 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996? NO1327E