Absolutely. [Applause.]
As critical facilities, health centres should also enjoy a reliable supply of electricity. Waste management services should also be improved. I am just counting what should be standard services in any municipality, the standards we should aspire to for our people throughout the country.
It is clear that while a lot of work has been done by the province and municipalities, much more still needs to be done in this area, hence our theme, "All spheres of government working together to speed up the delivery of services".
Concern was raised this week about the poor relationship between the communities and some of the councillors in this area. [Applause.] I must hasten to add that we need to be careful about blaming all councillors for any wrong that is done by just a few. The majority of councillors and officials around the country work diligently. Where this is lacking, let the provincial authorities address the matter to improve service delivery.
And I want to stress this point: There is a tendency to generalise about the corruption of councillors. [Applause.] I think it is unfair to the many councillors who are working, who are honest, and who are serving the people, if we tend towards making generalised statements. Let us deal with the councillors who are corrupt, and not generalise. Let us be very specific, so that we can address the question. [Applause.] A perception is being created that once you are in government, you are just corrupt. It is wrong and it is unfair.
The scale of some challenges experienced here is local, provincial and also national, which means that intervention should be collective and should cut across those three spheres. It has been raised that there is no proper collaboration of the three spheres of government in some of the projects implemented in this area. This must be attended to. We cannot underestimate the need for collaboration amongst the three spheres of government. I emphasise that point whenever I meet the premiers in the President's Co- ordinating Council every quarter.
We are one country; we are not a federal country. [Applause.] All the arrangements that have been made have been made for easy administration. You see, that is part of the problem: People fight about boundaries as if they are the borders of a country, when we are in one country. And indeed, the way people act it is as if we are in different countries. When an ambulance is close by, because it belongs to another province, it cannot take a patient. It is a misunderstanding of how these things are arranged and for what reason. They are not different countries. We will end up asking for a passport if some people drive into a province - it is really ridiculous. We are sitting with border disputes. I do not know what border it is, in one country. We, as politicians, might have created this misconception.
We are scheduled to meet again on 26 November as the PCC, the Provincial Co- ordinating Council. You know, these acronyms are, at times, a problem to us ...
... kithina bantu la eMzansi. Umuntu akuxoxele indaba ngamagama afingqiwe [acronyms]. [... the people of South Africa. A person will tell you a story in parables.]
PCC means Provincial Co-ordinating Council.
The NCOP represents the voice and interests of our people in the provinces at the highest levels of our democratic republic. The fact that it also sits outside of Parliament in Cape Town is a very important and unique development. Most of the issues that have come out this week have enabled members of the National Council of Provinces to obtain a first-hand account of the challenges in this area and region. When you discuss legislation relating to how poverty affects our people, you will do so informed by the conditions on the ground. The lessons that we have learned here should be instructive for other areas, both here in the Free State and in other parts of the country.
Therefore, as we meet here in the Free State today, we should make sure that the National Council of Provinces' programme of Taking Parliament to the People continues to form a critical part of what it means to be an elected representative. It should not just be seen as a deviation from your normal schedule as MPs, as this is a valuable interaction that helps our Members of Parliament to keep in touch with the people they represent.
We truly appreciate being here with you, as we will be able to experience whether we are truly changing the way government works. We thank you for your kind attention.
Siyabonga kakhulu ukusamukela kwena kule ndawo. [Thank you very much for welcoming us to this place.]
Re leboha haholo hore le re amohele kajeno baheso. [Thank you very much for welcoming us today.]
Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]