Chairperson, I certainly don't feel threatened standing here before this committee.
The hon Sogoni referred to the national democratic revolution. I agree. I agree that what we need is a revolution. We need a revolution that promotes a work ethic and accountability within the state machinery. The implementation of that lies squarely on the shoulders of the hon Minister and this department. It is a heavy responsibility, but it is one that they have to undertake.
The hon Minister also spoke about education being a priority. I think all of us were saddened - and this comes to monitoring and evaluation - when we saw on national television the kind of things that are happening in KwaDukuza, where three people were killed, allegedly through police brutality. I mean, this reminds one of 1976 and the Soweto riots.
I think, hon Minister, monitoring and evaluation must also include monitoring and evaluating of the work of the Independent Complaints Directorate and the way they investigate complaints against policemen.
When this department was created, we supported Budget Vote No 6. We supported the creation of this department. We still do, because we believe it has a useful purpose in the South African context. It has a complementary role that it needs to play to support other departments. However, we believe that it must not take away the roles and responsibilities that every other department or municipality has. What we would like to see are norms and standards being established so that the Premiers and Ministers responsible for local government can compel - because the Constitution allows you to do that, hon Minister - other departments to perform.
We've got the Deputy Auditor-General in the House. What we don't want to see, hon Chair and hon Minister, is reports like these coming up. I have a report here - a report of the Auditor-General on an investigation into certain alleged procurement irregularities at the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. Now, we are getting this increasingly. Municipal managers are not performing. Managers in departments at provincial and national level are not performing. While we monitor and evaluate what they do, it doesn't take rocket science to indicate to us that toilets are not being built properly or schools are not being constructed properly, like in the Western Cape and Mpumalanga, was it? The Free State, or some other area.
What is imperative for us as government ... [Interjections.] When their conversation is over, I'll carry on, Chair.