Deputy Speaker, I want to say to the hon Minister that if local government was a patient, it would have been in the intensive care unit by now, because it has a deadly virus - they call it the ANC virus.
Why do I say so? It is a virus that promotes corruption by appointing unqualified people into positions. Therefore, I want to say to the hon Minister that at least this Bill is a step in the right direction.
Agb Minister, veral klousule 7 van die wetsontwerp word verwelkom, maar dit los nog nie die probleem op nie. Daar word nou wel daarna verwys dat munisipale bestuurders wat vorige veroordelings het en teen wie daar dissiplinre stappe gedoen is, byvoorbeeld as hulle van korrupsie skuldig bevind is, vir 10 jaar nie aangestel mag word nie.
Dit spreek egter nog nie die probleem aan waar daar dissiplinre stappe teen 'n munisipale bestuurder gedoen is en daardie munisipale bestuurder, voor die saak afgehandel is, na 'n ander munisipaliteit gaan nie. Daar word daarna verwys dat 'n rekord daarvan gehou moet word, maar dit moet verder aangespreek word, anders kan ek u verseker dat hierdie pasint sal sterf. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Minister, clause 7 of the Bill is welcomed in particular, but it does not solve the problem. Mention is indeed made of the fact that municipal managers with previous convictions and who have been subjected to disciplinary steps, for example, those convicted of corruption, should not be appointed for a period of 10 years.
However, it does not address the problem where disciplinary steps have been taken against a municipal manager and that municipal manager has moved to another municipality, before the case has been concluded. Reference is made to the fact that a record be kept thereof, but this must be addressed further, or else I can assure you that this patient will die.