Sihlalo, Mphathiswa, Sekela Mphathiswa, maLungu eNdlu yoWiso-mthetho, zindwendwe zethu ezibalulekileyo. [Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Members of the House, distinguished guests.]
In deliberating about the role and place of traditional leadership it is fitting to visit the history of our society and awaken our collective memory.
Since time immemorial, kings have led heroic struggles against settlers and colonial forces throughout Southern Africa. These leaders waged determined resistance wars to protect the territorial integrity of their nations against invasion and intrusion by colonial and apartheid missions. Their relentless efforts left an indelible mark, and history is blessed by footprints which propelled liberation movements to honour and advance the cause of freedom. The colonial history of our land reveals the admirable struggles by our forefathers, by kings in the frontier wars during which Hintsa, Maqoma, Sandile, Nxele and many others on the Eastern frontier lost their lives. Who can forget the victorious armies of the people led by the likes of Bambatha during the Bambatha Rebellion, and King Cetshwayo's decisive defeat of the British forces in the now celebrated "Battle of Isandlwana"?
It is an inescapable reality that kings, chiefs and traditional authorities played a fundamental role in defending the people of South Africa against foreign and settler aggression. Some paid the ultimate price, while others were dethroned by the colonial regime. It is also inescapable that kings, chiefs and traditional leaders played a pivotal role in founding the oldest liberation movement on the African continent, the ANC. And one is reminded of the leading role played by Chief Albert Luthuli.
This is a history that Africans treasure, and it is a reality that continues to inspire many traditional authorities to play a constructive role in lifting the black majority out of abject poverty. Therefore, it is encouraging that in our democratic dispensation the role of traditional leadership is being debated, considered seriously, in order to contribute to the fight against the enormous challenges posed by present-day South Africa.
The recognition of the relevance of traditional leadership is evidenced by the incorporation of the institution of traditional leadership in the Constitution in Chapter 12 in terms of which the institution, status and roles of traditional leadership, according to customary law, are recognised. The fact that the visionary leaders who crafted the Constitution had the wisdom, taking into account our history and present concrete reality, to make space for traditional authorities in the development discourse is instructive.
Further, the establishment of the Department of Traditional Affairs bears further testimony to the commitment of the ANC-led government to promoting the developmental democratic role of the institution of traditional leadership. The department's vision of "an effective and efficient institution of traditional leadership that enhances sustainable development and service delivery" is consistent with the general thrust of building a developmental state. The department also casts it in a complementary and supportive role for local government in promoting sustainable development and service delivery.
There is a concern that we must register about the inadequate funding for the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. This is one of the most important institutions in our country, especially if we are to move forward in the quest for nation-building and the promotion of our nascent democracy.
Traditional institutions, as prescribed by the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, Act 41 of 2003, as amended, must constitute themselves in line with gender representivity. More especially, the traditional councils must adhere to the criteria that 40% of people must be elected democratically from traditional communities. The Department of Traditional Affairs must ensure that traditional councils are legitimate. The department must use its allocated share of the budget, amounting to R97 million, to strengthen the institution of traditional leadership.
The country is experiencing rapid urbanisation. However, we need to accept the reality that more than 42% of our population still resides in rural areas. This is where extreme poverty, unemployment and lack of service delivery are acute. Municipalities in these areas, in the majority of cases, are economically unviable and rely on national government grants and support.
The 2009 election manifesto of the ANC sets rural development and sustainable livelihood as key priorities. President Zuma made an assurance to South Africans during his inauguration at the Union Buildings in 2009. He said, and I quote: "For as long as there are rural dwellers unable to make a decent living from the land on which they live ... we shall not rest, and we dare not falter," in our drive to eradicate poverty.
The commitment has been a common thread in terms of prioritising rural development, asserting that rural dwellers are also entitled to running water, electricity, sanitation and economic development. The Comprehensive Rural Development Strategy of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is a progressive strategy of poverty eradication in rural communities.
It is important to stress that the economic capability of rural communities needs to be radically improved by investing in infrastructure such as the roads network, bulk infrastructure in the form of water and electricity, and public infrastructure, for example schools, clinics and other public services. Radical investment in such activities will ignite the economic potential of rural communities and improve their participation in the economy and the country's GDP. This will benefit local authorities as it will enable residents to pay for municipal services, improve revenue collection and discourage out-migration.
The country has just emerged from local government elections which were a resounding success. South Africans have faith in democratic systems and they have given practical expression to the injunction that "The people shall govern."
Le nto ithetha ukuba abantu bayakulawula; abasayi kulawulwa ziinkosi. [This means that the people shall govern; they will not be governed by chiefs.]
It is important that after these successful elections councillors are properly inducted and trained for the duties ahead. It is critically important to ensure that citizen participation does not end in the vote but that it extends to the daily operations of the municipalities. The citizens must participate in the integrated development plans, and in the budget and performance management of the municipality, as prescribed in the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, as amended, and the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act.
People must participate in the ward committees and entrench the culture of popular participation in the people's organs.
Iikomiti zeewadi zona zisebenzisana norhulumente, ukanti ikhona imibutho yabahlali eliliso labantu ejonga ukuba ingaba urhulumente uyazizisa na iinkonzo ngokufanelekileyo ebantwini. Ikhona ke nemibutho efana ne-Sanco, edlala le ndima. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Ward committees work together with the government, whilst there are community organisations which observe whether government is delivering services properly to the people. There are organisations like Sanco, which play this role.]
It is critically important that we support this Budget Vote so that we can encourage the partnership between our people, local government and other spheres as well as with traditional leadership in order to promote rural development.
Umbutho wesizwe uyaluxhasa olu Hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [The people's party supports this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]]
The ACTING MINISTER FOR CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS (Mr E N Mthethwa: Chair, I would like to thank hon members for their contributions.
Firstly, I just want to remind the House that Cogta undertook an exercise of assessing municipalities and came up with a report on the state of local government. It is that report which led us to develop the Local Government Turnaround Strategy and the municipal turnaround strategy.
As the ruling party, we will continue to ensure that the lives of people are bettered. We are addressing and redressing what has been there for a very long time.
The benefits of these programmes relate to Operation Clean Audit. I did enumerate the number of municipalities that have turned the corner in terms of their audits, and we will continue in that vein, particularly where service delivery and providing for the needs of the people of our land are concerned.
Those who rejoiced when people were protesting, thinking that they may get some crumbs in the form of support from those protesters, are disappointed, because those particular localities who protested voted for the ruling party. It does not necessarily mean that when people protest they have turned their back on the ruling party. It simply means that the ruling party must accelerate that very service delivery programme, which it has.
The hon Lorimer surprised me. He talked about the ANC's unimpressive performance of 62%. He must disabuse himself of the idea that 24% is bigger than 62%! [Laughter.] He must get to know basic arithmetic. If you understand this arithmetic, then you would know what the bigger picture is and you would know what is happening.
The other point which we need to make concerns this thing you continue to say about Mandela's ANC being better than the current ANC, or Zuma's ANC. First and foremost, we should welcome the fact that you can now see the light, that it is only the ANC which can provide the nation and the international world with a leader. There are many of them. It is not only Mandela. There are many. Thank you for recognising that. [Applause.]
You are not anywhere near that and you won't be anywhere near that. You know you are ashamed of mentioning your predecessors, because you don't have any role models in so far as that is concerned. [Applause.] So you come here and you talk a lot of politics which has not ...
Ungithinte kahle uma ukhuluma ngoKhongolose. [You have actually started with the issue that I wanted to start with, when you talk about the African National Congress.]
Mandela always emphasised collectivism, not the individualism which you have religiously pursued and followed. You have followed an individual leader. The Mandela you talk about is the same Mandela of the pre-armed struggle. He's the same Mandela that was the commander-in-chief of uMkhonto weSizwe. He's the same Mandela which you and your friends said was a terrorist. It is the same Mandela. It is the same Mandela who grew to be the leader and the head of state. You are not going to tell us about that. We are just glad that you can now see the light. You'll continue to see the light, slowly but surely; we are not rushing you. We will ensure that you are on board on everything.
You made a very fantastic, dramatic confession by stating that spending does not necessarily mean delivery. Is that a confession about Cape Town in relation to those areas which have not received delivery? There are areas which have not received delivery. I am glad you made that statement. You see, we said that before, but you didn't want to admit to it because you were in an election mood, but now you know you see things clearly. We can see clearly now, the rain is gone. [Laughter.] Thank you very much! Hon Groenewald, I nearly rose on a point of order, because I thought you thought that seeing me, as Minister of Police, meant I was talking about the budget of the Police. There is no way that the department you were talking about is in the state you are saying, but I am not going to refute that because you corrected yourself. You realised then that it is another budget. Thank you very much for that realisation. [Applause.]
Well, I think my friend, hon Singh, you made a mistake when you said you were improving the roads. I think that was an innocent mistake, because you can't improve the roads in local government. We are trying to uproot that. I don't know, again, whether you were also making a confession of what you did with local government and so on ... [Laughter.] ... but I want to believe that ...
Hon Chair, thank you very much. I think the discussion was fruitful and we have learnt a few things and some of our friends have learnt things here. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.