Mr Worth, what you are raising is something that we discovered last year, that the municipal manager from Moqhaka was employed at Matlosana. We raised the matter strongly with the mayor that the gentleman had not performed. On the basis of his performance in Moqhaka, why was he employed there? We don't take decisions about the employment of municipal managers and section 57 managers - it is a decision of the council - but what we can say is that we were proven right in saying the person was not suitable to be employed.
That is why we have taken a decision in regard to the Bill that we have submitted to the National Assembly and which will be coming to this House, that anybody who is employed must be qualified, must be skilled, and so on. We are setting the criteria for employment.
If that person is employed, we are also saying the municipality must give a report to the MEC for local government and the Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In that report, if we find that procedures were violated or flouted, or the individual concerned is not properly qualified as we would want, the MEC must intervene within 14 days of having this matter come to his or her attention. If the MEC cannot intervene within 14 days, the Minister must intervene and ensure that that situation is corrected.
We are trying to ensure that local government is staffed with professionals. We want to avoid a situation in which we employ people for reasons other than the skills and contribution that they will make, because they are bringing local government into disrepute by not being able to deliver what is required. Therefore, in the case of Matlosana we are monitoring the situation very closely and we are happy that there is a new mayor there - he was a member of the National Assembly - who is promising to ensure that he gives direction. Thank you very much, Deputy Chair.