House Chairperson, the Constitutional Court, like all South Africans, has instructed the state, in this case, the Department of Home Affairs, to uphold the dignity of all South African citizens and their families.
The former Minister of State Security, hon Bongo, should therefore not have been allowed to participate in this Budget debate seems to his numerous allegations of corruption and bribery against him. Last week, the court gave the department two years to amend foreign spous Visa laws which require foreign spouses or children of South African citizens to leave the country to renew their Visas.
Although this is a victory, the challenge will, however, remain if the department takes its own time to fix legislation that could result in the separation of foreign spouses from their families, and once again making refugees and asylum seekers the scapegoats of the department's failure. The corruption, bribery, wrongful and unnecessary rejections, and the delaying tactics on the part of officials at Home Affairs have resulted in several frivolous court cases.
The Deputy Minister, Nzuza, has been tasked with overseeing and driving three distinct areas of operation within the department namely refugees and asylum seekers management, the Moetapele Improvement Campaign, and legal services. When it comes to legal services, however, the Constitutional Court, on many occasions, described your department's litigation as obstructive, floppy,
shocking with no conscious towards refugees and asylum seekers. These comments are damning indictment on this state department.
The placements of legal services specialists in the core branches of the Department of Home Affairs are, in your own words Deputy Minister, operating under severe constraint and lack of personnel. They have cost this department millions. Now, the same constrained, understaffed and overwhelmed legal department has to defend the legal action and blunders of Department of Home Affairs and in turn becoming a laughing stock again.
Deputy Minister, I saw that you were in Durban on Monday. I would like to emphasise that our presence and assistance to the community out there should come from Home Affairs, from the [Inaudible.] itself. We can't have a situation where people suddenly get help when the Minister intervenes. Our office cannot, every time, call upon Mr Mckay or Moeketsi for people to be helped. We say that it is a systematic problem; the problem is SITA. The SITA must come to the party and assist us as far as computers are concerned.
Just this afternoon I joined a colleague and stood for almost an hour outside and could not be helped. We have received a budget of over R8 billion for 2018-19 financial year. Both Government Printing
Works and the Independent Electoral Commission have presented their Annual Performance Plan.
The DA would like to assure you, Minister, that we will proactively monitor the procurement renewal processes of contracts under the department as well as the investigations related to Visa facilitation as well as the National Identification System and the Fixed Based Operator under FireBlade Aviation at OR Tambo International Airport.
Minister, this includes allegations of state capture and early naturalisation of the Gupta family. Watch this space, hon Bongo. We will do so because we believe in an open, transparent and principled government. The DA is encouraged by the many Home Affairs officials who are working tirelessly to make the department work for all.
The DA praises all the Advocate Vanaras of this world, hon Bongo, who advocate justice for all. The DA warns corrupt officials who prey and exploit innocent immigrants. Our vision is to see Home Affairs working again. The DA pledges to ensure South Africa achieves an effective, efficient and co-ordinated boarder safety plan - something the ruling ANC cannot do.
To attract foreign nationals with scarce skills and business to South Africa - something the ANC ruling party cannot do. To subscribe at all times to the independence of the IEC - something the ruling ANC cannot do. We will remain resolute, open, polite, and dedicated.
Minister, corruption is a continued problem within the Department of Home Affairs and at South Africa's borders. In May 2016, 15 people, including a Deputy Director of this department for fraud. Similarly, in March 2017, 18 people were arrested in connection with fraud and corruption at the Ficksburg border including 10 police and officials of Home Affairs. In 2018 the former Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, lied under oath about the Fireblade saga. Last but not least, in 2019 the ANC gave South Africans the middle finger by electing Advocate Bongani Bongo as Chairperson of this committee. I thank you. [Applause.]