Chairperson, I want to say that the hon Minister is worrying me. I am worried that you may think that you are conducting a choir and that you will find out that you are only conducting yourself. [Laughter.]
Voorsitter, die VF Plus verwelkom enige inisiatief op plaaslike regeringsvlak. Ek wil eintlik vir die agb Minister s dat ek nie dink dit kan slegter gaan nie. Maar agb Minister ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, the FF Plus welcomes any initiative at local government level. I actually would like to say to the hon Minister that I do not think things can get worse. But hon Minister ...]
... I want to say that you will have to start with your own department, and the targets are targets that sound very good, but about two weeks ago, I asked you a question in this House about a forensic report and the findings thereof that had been completed in 2007. It is two weeks now, and we haven't heard anything.
Die probleem is as dit die departement so lank vat om net 'n antwoord te gee, hoe lank gaan dit ander munisipaliteite neem? Ek wil vandag, Minister, vir u s dat indien u u doelwitte wil bereik, gaan u ongeveer die helfte van u munisipale bestuurders moet ontslaan en sorg dat u bevoegde munisipale bestuurders kry wat die werk kan doen, anders leef u in 'n droom. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The problem is that if it takes the department so long to simply reply, how long will it take other municipalities to do so? Hon Minister, today I would like to say to you that if you want to achieve your goals, you will have to dismiss almost half of your municipal managers and ensure that you appoint competent municipal managers who can do the job, otherwise you are living in a dream-world. Thank you. [Applause.]]