Well, actually it is my Minister's day - I am merely here on his behalf!
Nevertheless, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as you know, Mr Tsenoli, is responsible for the administration of the municipal infrastructure grant, the municipal systems improvement grant and, of course, the local government equitable share.
The amount of funding to local government in terms of both the local government equitable share and the municipal infrastructure grant, has steadily increased over the years. Minister Manuel and Minister Gordhan might think it is simply that they are being kind, but actually it is pressure, not least from the hon Tsenoli's portfolio committee, that has put this on the agenda, and also a recognition of the importance of local government.
The equitable share, mind you, has increased from R25,5 billion in the 2008- 09 financial year to R34,1 billion in the current financial year. The municipal infrastructure grant has increased from R4,4 billion in 2004-05 to R11,4 billion in 2011-12.
There is, of course, no specific amount for funding district municipalities directly, though the structure and formula of the local government equitable share takes into account various criteria, including the number of poor households, the number of households without access to basic services, the cost of basic services and other considerations, and so too with the municipal infrastructure grant. The formula takes into account the backlogs and the powers and functions that different municipalities have, as against the local and district aspects, and so on.
Obviously, the issue of what funding is appropriate for the districts is related to the broader issue of what happens to the two-tier system in local government. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs will soon be bringing to the public, over the next year or so, a discussion document around aspects of the model of local government that we think should be reviewed. So the issue of how you fund districts is also related to the broader issue of what the future role of district municipalities is, which is far from being finalised, and we certainly need a debate around it. Thank you.