Chairperson, it is, of course, not the intention of the department to subject the additional properties, beyond the first of the house owners of residential properties, to commercial or business rates, as we have repeatedly made clear, Mr Lorimer, and as you yourself well know. On this issue we keep saying to people that there was an ambiguity in a particular clause. If you read the Bill as a whole, however, it is very clear that it was never the intention of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, to subject residential properties to commercial or business rates.
However, if people use a house or a residential property for business purposes, and if it is beyond a small, let us say, emerging business, the municipality has the right to levy property rates according to business tariffs, if that residential property is used for a business of a significant scale. The decision about what is "significant" will obviously be made at the local level. So, it is not our intention, as you well know.
As Cogta we want to stress that it is like saying, "We do not believe there are purple ducks." Then people say to us, "Okay, that is very clear. Now tell us, do these purple ducks have three wings?" So we say, "No, no, no, Cogta doesn't believe that there are purple ducks. So the issue of whether they have three wings or three legs does not arise." Then they will say, "Yes, oh, that's clear." Then they will ask, "Now tell us, these purple ducks, is it true they come from Mongolia?" Then we'll say, "No, no, no. We have said to you we don't believe there are purple ducks." Then they say, "Oh, that's clear." Then the next question is, "Deputy Minister, can you respond to the view that these purple ducks can make the water in the ponds in the park poisonous?" And then you say, "No, no, no, but we're telling you we don't believe there are purple ducks. So the issue doesn't arise!" [Laughter.]
Mr Lorimer, will you please not ask another question like that? There are no purple ducks! [Laughter.] Cogta doesn't believe there are purple ducks! So, to answer your question: it was never our intention, and if there is any misunderstanding that we feel that there are purple ducks, we will clarify it. Let me make this clear: Cogta does not believe that there are purple ducks and if there is anything in the legislation that implies that, we will clarify it. We will decide on the wording in the next two weeks. Thank you.