Mr Speaker, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs wants to share entirely the sentiments expressed by hon Tsenoli. In fact, the South African Local Government Association, Salga, held a highly successful human resources management conference. It followed on after a conference held in 2003.
The main aim of the conference was to ensure that the Public Service and the local administration become professional. They drew attention to problems that are consistent with what we mentioned in the State of Local Government Report.
In particular, they are concerned about the way people are appointed. They recognise the high turnover in municipalities in respect of senior managers. They are also concerned about ensuring that the scarcity of skills is attended to by drawing in people who are currently deployed in the national and provincial spheres as administrators and public servants.
In fact, they are also interested to see that, before this very Parliament, there is a Bill that, I understand, they identify with. This is the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill, which seeks to professionalise the Public Service at the local government administration level.
Also, of course, these decisions have been taken and strategies have been adopted. It is not for Salga alone to address these issues. All three spheres of government, not least this Parliament, need to work with them in order to implement those resolutions that they have adopted. I thank you.