Chairperson, hon members, distinguished guests, local government in South Africa has contributed to the achievement of a number of significant social and economic development advances.
Since the ushering in of the new democratic municipal dispensation in December 2000, the majority of our people have increased access to a wide range of basic services. Since 1994, the ANC-led government has made access to basic services and infrastructure development its key priorities.
South Africa has once again achieved international recognition for meeting budget transparency and accountability standards. The International Budget Partnership ranked South Africa first among 94 countries in their 2010 Open Budget Survey.
In keeping with ongoing budget reform improvements to the way that public finances are managed and reported, changes have also been made in the 2011 estimates of the national expenditure.
It is important to note that whilst the main focus is on the lack of service delivery, that does not in any way detract from the sterling work being done by many of our municipalities across the country. We must also not forget to thank the outgoing councillors who selflessly provided their political leadership, worked under difficult conditions and yet continued to inspire others with their vision, dedication and commitment.
My input today will focus mainly on migration, urbanisation, household growth, population and dynamics and its impact on planning, as well as on the municipal infrastructure grant. I will also mention and do a breakdown analysis of the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs budget.
Urbanisation is a reality that confronts many cities all over the world. In South Africa, of the total population of 46 million, 19 million are rural based, while 25% are urban based. This translates into an urban population of 56%. Apart from natural growth and rural to urban or internal migration, there is also cross-border and international migration that will inevitably contribute to the substantial growth.
Owing to the neocolonial and apartheid past, South Africa has the most distorted settlement patterns which conform to race and class distinctions. Upon the dawn of democracy and the establishment of a new democratic, developmental local government, we knew that the road to transformation would be hard, long and bumpy one. We also knew that we would face challenges and sometimes face failure in some areas. But what is important and crucial is for the ANC to focus and correct our mistakes and move forward with determination.
Development patterns must not continue to reinforce the distorted apartheid spatial planning framework. We all know that it is difficult to plan or budget for people who have migrated from all walks of life. Long-term spatial planning must be undertaken within the national framework, developed jointly by the National Planning Commission and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
Underground infrastructure, such as water pipes, drains and storm water systems, should be laid as the foundation. Then the provision of water and sanitation would be provided without major difficulties.
If dams, sewerage, water-treatment plants and power stations are built and well maintained, the provision of access to safe and clean drinking water and electricity will be a reality, even in scattered and sparse areas.
Each and every department's budget must ensure that installation of infrastructure is followed by a flow of service. It cannot be correct for taps to be installed but for communities to go without water. The existence of infrastructure must mean the efficient provision of basic services in an affordable manner to all our people.
A document published in September 2010 by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is titled "Progress Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals". This report was critical of the lack of progress and the severe impact of the global capital financial crisis. The report states that there is uneven progress in the eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, whilst there is regression in the area of employment creation.
There is still a need for government departments to work better and faster to meet the developmental challenges of the country, in particular the provision of basic needs such as water, electricity and sanitation. More importantly, investment in the installation of developmental infrastructure must mean intensifying the provision of water services to the poor and vulnerable in order to improve the living conditions of the majority of our people in rural and urban spaces.
A report produced by the SA Institute of Civil Engineering indicates that the extent of the infrastructure backlog and dilapidated infrastructure is huge. This means that there is a gap between the infrastructure needs of the country and the available skills to build and maintain the infrastructure. Through the special purpose vehicle, which is expected to eliminate infrastructure backlogs, we will succeed by working together with dedicated technical capacity in municipalities. On that note, the department must make sure that it assists municipalities to utilise the infrastructure budget allocation of R12 billion as expected.
In 2010, Cabinet approved the establishment of the bulk infrastructure fund to ensure basic service delivery. The local government equitable share transfers to municipalities amount to R346 billion of the total allocation and are intended to augment municipality-owned revenue in order to fast- track basic service delivery. We also want to support the decision that has been taken that 21 municipalities and metros have been given full accreditation to deliver houses.
Allow me, with my few minutes remaining, to quickly highlight some of the achievements and progress made where I am deployed, which is at the Msukaligwa Municipality. I just want to correct the perception that people are protesting because there is no service delivery. In the Msukaligwa Municipality 37 000 out of 40 000 households have access to water; 103 boreholes have been installed on 13 farms; 500 ventilated improved pit toilets have been built on 53 farms; 1 946 reconstruction and development houses have been built in Ermelo, Wesselton; 390 houses have been built in Warburton; 300 houses have been built in Davel; 489 houses have been built in Lothair; a modern library has been built in Wesselton; elevated water tanks have been built in Wesselton and Sheepmore; 11 km of road have been paved; and a fire station has been built in Breyton. The very same municipality where there have been protests, Msukaligwa Municipality, has been receiving unqualified audit reports for the past four years. [Applause.]
Konkhe loku ngikusho ngobe ngifuna kukhombisa live kutsi bantfu bayayibona imisebenti ye-ANC. Kungako nje baphume ngetinkhani bayawuvota. Ngitfunywe ngiyo-ke i-ANC kutsi ngiteyibongela kakhulu kubantfu baseNingizimu Afrika ngekuphuma bayewuvota.
Iyabonga kakhulu i-ANC kubahlali baseMsukaligwa kulakaGert Sibande ngekuhamba kwabo bayewuvota. Loku kukhombisa kutsi bayayibona i-ANC kutsi iyasebenta futsi bayayetsemba.
Kulamakhansela lasandza kungena-ke sitsi:Phezukwemkhono! (Translation of Siswati paragraphs follows.)
[I am mentioning all of these because I want to show the country; that people can see what the ANC is doing. That is why they came up in numbers to cast their votes. I have been sent by the ANC to come and convey a word of gratitude to the people of South Africa for casting their votes.
The ANC is saying thank you very much to the residents of Msukaligwa in the Gert Sibande district by going to cast their votes. This shows that they can see that the ANC is working and they have trust in it.
To the newly-elected councillors we say they must hit the road running.]
The ANC supports Budget Vote No 3. I thank you. [Applause.]