Phini likaSomlomo, ngikhuluma lapha egameni lelungu elihlala kuleli komidi. [Deputy Speaker, I'm speaking here on behalf of the member who serves on this committee.]
This Bill seeks to introduce a uniform and consistent system and procedures for all municipalities across our country. It further aims to make greater strides in the depoliticising of our municipalities. Furthermore, it aims to do this with the employment of municipal staff that are skilled, competent and dedicated to serving their communities.
Certain high-level municipal positions will have competency criteria in place, which all candidates must measure up to. In addition, the Bill will also facilitate the removal of unsuitable employees from local government, should they be found to be unfit or unable to carry out their duties.
Our municipalities are the first line of contact between government and the citizens of our country. This line of contact has, by and large, been in a nonfunctioning state, owing mainly to the continued cadre deployment policy of the ruling party within the majority of municipalities under its control in South Africa.
The net result is that incompetent, unskilled and unscrupulous persons have been appointed to positions of power, based solely upon political affiliations and connections, with the citizens of our country ending up as the victims of service delivery failures throughout South Africa.
Local government through service excellence must become the champion of service delivery to the citizenry.
Inkatha ye Nkululeko yeSizwe iyaweseka lo Mthethosivivinywa. [The Inkatha Freedom Party supports this Bill.]