Deputy Speaker, the ANC supports Budget Vote No 3 on Co- operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
I am so amazed today at the parties that are saying that they are opposed to the Budget Vote, namely Cope, DA and FF Plus, which means that they are coming with two tongues to this House. Inside the House they say that they are opposing the Budget Vote. This means that they are denying access to service delivery to the people out there, but then they will go to the same communities that they are denying access to service delivery by opposing this Budget Vote, and ask for their votes. [Interjections.]
The ANC-led government has made significant progress in wrestling with these deep historic injustices of the past. Local government is at the coalface of service delivery. Yes, we agree. There are challenges but, despite all those challenges, we acknowledge the achievements and interventions that the department has made. For instance, there is a Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency that has been established to assist municipalities in terms of technical support. We support also this financial Budget Vote so that this department can support the 23 district municipalities identified by the department and the 107 municipalities in terms of governance and financial management.
We welcome the turnaround strategy which will come with all the 11 volumes that will speak to each and every province. We also welcome the establishment of municipal public accounts committees, Mpacs, public account committees, and internal audit committees, in order for them to monitor and assist municipalities in terms of the effective use of public funds. The partnership with private institutions ... [Interjections.] Once again, the ANC supports Budget Vote No 3. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Congress of the People, Independent Democrats and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 4 - Home Affairs - put and agreed to. Vote No 5 - International Relations and Co-operation - put.
Declaration of vote: