I'm not very clear about the nature and meaning of the report and its legal status but, again, if the gentleman, the hon member, could write to me, I will contact the mayor and ask if the report can be released.
Sometimes these reports cannot be released for legal reasons, because the evidence against people who are identified in them as having transgressed the law is not substantial enough. Such persons have the right to take a municipality to court for suggesting that they have transgressed the law when there isn't substantial evidence of that. As a matter of interest, we have suggested to municipalities that where there are aspects of a report that are legally vulnerable, they could exclude such and give us the rest of the report. But I think that we will be quite prepared to pursue getting a copy of the report. I'm not aware that we have a copy of it. Thank you.
Particulars regarding financial difficulties faced by municipalities in relation to service delivery
78. Mr M J R de Villiers (DA) asked the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:
(1) Whether any municipalities are facing any financial difficulties in addressing their service delivery duties and responsibilities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) which municipalities, (b) in which provinces and (c) what programmes are to be implemented to assist these municipalities;
(2) whether his department is in possession of the information regarding the amount of money owed to financial institutions by these municipalities; if not, why not; if so, when will his department gather such information;
(3) whether he will make a statement on the matter? CO432E