Reducing the number of provinces from nine to four lines up with the African National Congress’s (ANC) attempts to centralise the government and is therefore no surprise, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) said on Tuesday.
”Efforts to make democracy easier or cheaper are ridiculous and defeat the object, and we question whether the cost of democracy will now be tallied on all fronts,” ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said.
The provincial government is meant to increase access to the government, allowing people to have a greater say in the affairs of the country that affect on their lives, she said.
In March, the ANC released a discussion document to its structures, ahead of its national policy conference, on the function and role of provinces. This was so the ANC could consider whether the country’s current governance model served the interests of South African people.
So far, various ministers, including Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, have come out in support of reducing the current nine provinces to four.
Dudley said the provincial sphere of government must be protected and at the same time be held responsible for its role in ensuring that South Africans are involved in decisions that affect their lives.
”Specific regional concerns are clearly best addressed at a provincial level where they are prioritised by people who understand the issues,” she said.
The government should rather focus on capacity and skills in order to get provinces functioning optimally. — Sapa