Well, it doesn't really matter. [Laughter.] Having written a speech beforehand, he can't actually listen to what we have said - the programme that we have laid out and the determination that we have spelt out to do our best to change the system of local government so that we can take another kilometre's journey forward toward the destination we want to get to. Regrettably, the only destination our colleagues on the left have - this part of the left in particular, which is not the EFF left but the other left - is to be critical and to denigrate and actually offer no solutions.
A former colleague of theirs, Gareth van Onselen, said in one of the newspapers in the past week that the DA should avoid two things. One is that they must stop using the word "must", because the ANC is never going to listen to their "must". [Interjections.] The second is that they need to overcome this DNA of theirs, a serious genetic failing, which is that they never come up with solutions that can work. [Interjections.] [Applause.] We have an offer to make, and thank you, Mr Bhanga. We accept your extended hand. Teach your colleagues how to extend their hands as well. [Laughter.] We will work with you to ensure that the initiation process takes on a very different shape from this point onwards.
We have spelt out very clearly that this journey to transform local government is decades long. Secondly, in the next five years we will certainly take it from where it is currently and make improvements to it. Thirdly, we said in our original speech that there are operational challenges. Nobody can deny them. The question is what we are going to do about them. The next thing is that these failures are not just political failures. They are part of the genetics of apartheid; they are part of the structural defaults that we have in our society.
I want to quote a famous economist, Dani Rodrik, who says that none of us actually have answers to the key questions of growth, jobs, etc. Yet, our colleagues on the left will pretend that they can produce 8% growth. Nowhere in the world except China and India have you had 8% growth. [Interjections.] However, these magicians on my left are going to produce 8% growth. They mislead South Africa, hon Matsepe. They mislead South Africa into actually believing that by removing constraints alone, they are going to produce 8% growth. [Interjections.]