Deputy Speaker, again today the Minister showed respect for this institution of Parliament by coming to us and also by showing respect for us as public representatives to outline what he's going to do and giving us in the House the opportunity to reflect on it.
I've got a government document here. On page 7 his predecessor promised us that by the end of 2008 that there would be a new White Paper on provinces and a review report on local government, but the Minister is picking up that baton and we will support him as far as possible.
I want to tell the hon Minister that he's very welcome to visit municipalities and the province that is governed by the DA. We've got some good practices there that he can learn from and also take to the ANC provinces. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
I'm also very glad that he is in a conciliatory mood with the Premier of the Western Cape about the visit to Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha; I'm sure that that will be resolved. He actually only made only one mistake and that was to go with the hon Fransman to that area! [Laughter.] [Interjections.]
The DA agrees that our country needs a major public debate about our system of co-operative governance. We need a governance system that is more effective and efficient, and which better addresses the needs of our people. This review should be driven by what we need in practice. We need that powers and functions of the different spheres should be more clearly defined and that unfunded mandates of, especially, municipalities are resolved.
It is clear from the protests that ordinary citizens do not know which sphere of government is responsible for what. Houses, for example, are demanded from municipalities while it is not their function. We need greater national co-ordination and the alignment of planning. The integrated development plans of municipalities are everything but integrated with the municipal budgets, let alone provincial planning, and therefore remain wish lists of communities.
We need better assistance financially and otherwise, and better oversight, especially over municipalities, not in a manner to infringe on their autonomy, but to assist them to fully fulfil their role. Therefore we need intergovernmental relations to be properly structured and practised to their full potential.
In addressing these challenges it will be important to remember that the Constitution is our founding document for the new South Africa. It contains the basic agreements we reached and it must bind us all together in our quest for solutions to improve our governance system. Therefore changes to the Constitution should not be made lightly, and if any are necessary, they should be made in the same spirit of consensus-seeking that underpinned the crucial agreements that were reached with the interim and final Constitution.
The creation of provinces is one such agreement that we should respect. The whole system of co-operative governance of the three spheres lies, as you've said, at the heart of our Constitution and should also be respected as such. Therefore, because this is so important, we would like to remind you that proper consultation with the public is an absolute necessity, Minister. In this regard the Minister should allow proper time for inputs and comments, and allow for everyone to be heard.
In many ways we are in a crisis, especially at local government level, and therefore we have to address the significant amount of fraud and corruption that is taking place. We have a breakdown in communication, and I think we can do better. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]