Agb Voorsitter, Minister Motsoaledi, Adjunkminister Nzuza, lede van die Kabinet teenwoordig, lede, amptenare en gaste, dit is vir my 'n voorreg om as lid van die Vryheidsfront Plus van die Nasionale Vergadering saam met elkeen van u Suid Afrika en sy mense te kan dien.
English:
South Africa is a community of communities, a country with 11 official languages and a coat of arms bearing the words in Khoi, literally meaning, "Diverse people unite." It addresses each individual effort to harness the unity between thought and action. On a collective scale, it calls for the nation to unite in a common sense of belonging and national pride - unity in diversity
Article 3 of the South African constitution states that there is a common citizenship, that all South African citizens are equally entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizens which the Department for Home Affairs is the custodian of the identity and status of citizens of South Africa. On the 5 and 6 July 2012, the
Department of Arts and culture hosted a, 'cohesion' summit in Soweto which I and other FF-Plus colleagues attended.
Today, seven years later, we must ask ourselves what the level of social cohesion is and if nation building is still on the South African agenda. The FF-Plus is concerned about the fact that several acting positions in the department are outstanding, including the position of director-general since august 2018; the deputy director- general civic services since August 2017; as well as the deputy director-general of information systems and counter corruption since late 2014. These are critical positions.
Reports are received from time to time that some South African citizens has unsuccessfully tried to attain an identity documents and passport. The consequences of such inefficiency can be worrying. Hon Chair, to the Minister: The lack of an integrated approach to border management and inadequate provision of acceptable port infrastructure will have to be rectified. The Border Management Bill is still with the NCOP and was supposed to be operational in the 2017-2018 financial year.
The sixth Parliament will hopefully revive the Bill. The department is underfunded for the 2019-2020 financial year, with a budget
allocation of R8 339 billion in comparisons with the 2018-l9 adjusted allocation of R9 047 billion. It shows nominal decrease of R707,7 million, and with the cost of inflation the budget shows a real decrease of R1,1 million or 12,38% from the adjusted budget the previous year.
Hon Minister, through you Chair, the FF-Plus urges you to get this department that has been in existence since 31 May 1910 back on track as the custodian of the identity and the status of citizens in South Africa. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]