Hon
Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, our guests in the gallery, the intelligence community, I greet you all. Hon Chairperson, standing here we are debating Budget Vote on State Security which is being debated by the Ad hoc Committee on Intelligence.
So, our lifespan will end after this budget debate as the ad hoc committee. Therefore, the committee will be established as we know the processes. Hon Chairperson, I thought I should start just by
saying that the ANC supports this Budget Vote 7 of State Security. [Applause.] Today we celebrate the birthday of our global icon, our struggle icon, the father of our nation, the freedom fighter, the global icon and the stalwart, uTata Nelson Mandela.
UTata Nelson Mandela in his words when said and I quote, "There can be no greater gift than that of giving one's time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return." I want to congratulate members of the ANC caucus and other political parties who participated in giving their 67 minutes to the communities out there. [Applause.] Congratulations, hon members. [Applause.]
We are all expected to do the same after the Budget Vote. Let's make everyday a Mandela Day. Let's not do it only on 18 July. As We celebrate this day, we ought to remind ourselves about the values he stood for, and the principles of human rights he advocated for his entire life. UTata Nelson Mandela embodied the true definition of a selfless, ethical, firm and a true servant of our people.
UTata uMadiba was one of the greatest leaders if not the only one, who was and is still loved and respected across the globe. Therefore, we are reminded and encouraged by his words, and I quote: "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is
what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."
The ANC calls upon all South Africans to emulate Madiba's love for the people and the country in an endeavour to change the lives and improve the living conditions of the poor and vulnerable. Hon Chairperson, the ANC in its national conference has wedged war against corruption in all private and public institutions. As a result, we have seen numerous interventions by the ANC-led government that seek to root out any element of corruption.
We urge all South Africans to support the commissions established by the President, institutions supporting our democracy and the law enforcement agencies. However, we take note that when corruption occurs, there is always a corruptor and the corrupted person. Therefore, the private sector needs to work together with our government in a fight against corruption.
Let's stand together as a nation and fight against this cancer that is slowly destroying our beautiful country. Let's report any form of criminality as and when it raises its ugly head, be it in our communities, public or private sectors, be it officials, politicians, business people, just to mention a few. The
consequences of corruption in our economy and society can no longer be underestimated.
The performance and capabilities of our state-owned institutions are grossly undermined by the levels of corruption. Our government is mandated by the constitution to ensure that the country's sovereignty is protected and the citizens live in peace and harmony. In order to realize the dreams of our forebears which found expression in Chapter 9 of our Constitution, we need ethical leaders with high moral ground like uTata Nelson Mandela.
We urge our communities, not to distract and destroy clinics, schools and other government buildings whenever they are protesting. This has a tendency of reversing the gains of our hard-earned democracy. Let's teach our communities to raise our issues in a peaceful manner and be always on alert of some criminal elements which hijack peaceful demonstrations. Hon Chairperson, we call on state security services to work in a co-ordinated fashion in an effort to tackle the sophisticated cybercrime.
Government need a dedicated integrated information and communications technology, ICT, capacity within the criminal justice system to fight the brutal scourge of cybercrime. This level of
cybercrime does not only pose danger to the health of the nation, but also undermine the basic human rights, whilst sustaining criminal networks involved in human trafficking, drugs, just to mention a few.
Hon Chairperson, as I conclude, let me take this opportunity to thank the Minister of State Security, the Deputy Minister of State Security, the Acting Director-General, DG, and all the officials of the department for their commitment and hard work in serving the interest of our people and our country.
Siswati:
Mhlon Sihlalo, sibantfu baseNingizimu Afrika kubalulekile kutsi sikwati kwekutsi kufanele kube ngitsi lesivikela live letfu, kufanele kube ngitsi lesilwisana nebugebengu, kufanele kube ngitsi lesibika bugebengu esikhatsini lesiningi, uma buvela esiveni. Live letfu lihle kakhulu bantfu baseNingizimu Afrika, kubalulekile kutsi silivikele. Hulumende yedvwa angeke akhona kukwenta loko, angakhona kukwenta uma sibambisene. Asitsi nangabe sinetidzingo letitsite sikhala ngetinsita, akungabi ngitsi lesidzilita siphindze sishise imitfolamphilo kanye netikolo. Akungabi ngitsi lesisebentisana netigebengu. Asisukumeni sibantfu baseNingizimu Afrika sisebentisaneni kutsi silwe nalobugebengu lobuhlukumeta bantfu
bakitsi, buhlukumeta bomake, buhlukumeta nebantfwana. Asibubikeni emaphoyiseni.
Setswana:
A re begeng bosinyi bo bo seng mo molaong mo mafelong a rona. Ga go ope yo o ka re baakanyetsang naga ya rona fa e se rona. ANC e dumalana le tekanyetsokabo eno. Ke a leboga.