Hon Chairperson, firstly, hon McGluwa, you must know that the ANC has various leaders and system in place that have
deployed comrades to serve the people of South Africa. We have deployed Comrade Bongo as the member of the House, credible as he is, to lead and chair the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs. You must know that there are institutions that are developed by the ANC where matters of allegations and corruption are referred to.
Secondly, hon Minister Aaron Motswaledi and Deputy Minister Nzuza bring credibility and experience in the life of the organisation, hence the ANC has deployed them to lead the Department of Home Affairs.
This Budget Vote comes during the month of celebrating the life and times of our struggle icon, uTata President Nelson Mandela, whom in his name the United Nations' General Assembly in November 2009 also declared 18 July as International Mandela Day. It acknowledged his outstanding contribution to the struggle for democracy and the promotion of peace throughout the world.
In honour of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, we are devoting our every action, our every effort, our every utterance to the realisation of their vision of a democratic, just and equitable society; as articulated by the President, Cyril Ramaphosa. [Applause.]
Regarding the post democratic breakthrough, the ANC-led Government has made significant progress thus far with progressive legislation to restore the dignity, identity and freedom of movement for our people. Hence the Minister brought two people here whom the EFF clearly does not understand the historical phase of our administrative system. It's clear that they are just here to ridicule our people. We call on you the Minister and your team to continue with your work in restoring the dignity and identity of our citizens.
This Department remains at the coal face of our country's civic affairs and it manages immigration by balancing three over-arching objectives: economic development, national security and fulfilment of our international and domestic obligations.
It is in this context of consolidating this common identity and citizenship that the ANC government undertook steps to ensure that every South African citizen over the age of 16 has an ID and every child born is issued with a birth certificate within 30 days.
This reaffirms the ANC's position to envisage home affairs as a modernised department responding to the present and future needs,
operating in a highly secure environment to protect the precious records of the lives of our people.
Most, if not all, South Africans, appreciate that there is a steady improvement in the Department of Home Affairs in delivering services to our people and we remain committed to ensure that we have a safe and secure South Africa where all our people will be proud of, value their dignity and citizenship.
In demonstrating that ANC is a listening government, challenges which in the past years have put the department in the negative space which includes amongst the following: the long queues in our service points and the prolonged turnaround time of issuing IDs, passports, visa and other related documents.
Members of the opposition, the EFF and DA, you must know that the ANC from time to time assess its policy implementation in order to improve operational efficiency in government.
As a result of the ANC policy directive, the department has introduced the biometrics system and it has 193 offices where live capture is located.
The department has also improved the turnaround time for issuing passports which is now between 14 and 30 days unlike before where it used to take more than two months.
The department is implementing an electronic queue management system which contributes positively in enhancing our frontline customer services while reducing waiting period for our people to receive services.
In the same vein, the department established service points in
391 hospitals where our people are able to access birth and death registration documents.
We would like to dismiss the false narrative by the opposition parties that ANC policies are not implemented successfully.
In our effort to fight the demon of corruption, the department is working tirelessly to narrow the late registrations of birth, which were open to abuse and the fraudulent acquisition of South African identity and citizenship.
It is also important to note the progressive partnership between the department and the banks which enables citizens to apply for their smart ID Cards and passports.
As the Minister has alluded, to date, 13 Banks have Department of Home Affairs' service points, which its frontline customer services are home affairs officials. This is a demonstration of the ANC government at work.
Minister, the ANC calls for the department to extend its services rural areas in the next financial year.
One of the pillars of the National Development Plan, NDP, is the building of a capable developmental state and reduction of poverty. It is, therefore, encouraging that the Department of Home Affairs has embarked on a large scale modernization programme that will enable the department to provide services efficiently and securely.
In support of the NDP the department has adopted a more open approach to immigration in order to expand supply of critical skills in a manner that contributes to economic growth, tourism and job creation.
The ANC appreciates the commendable work done to this extend by the department regarding the introduction of e-visa regime which is at the testing stage. As espoused by the President during the Sona, we are also pleased that significant progress has been made in restoring policy certainty in the visa regime.
The 54th ANC National Conferences resolved to reposition home affairs as a core security cluster department with adequate resources to enable it to achieve its vision of a modern and secure department managed by professionals.
The ANC has mandated that a comprehensive and trustworthy population register has to be developed in which it will enable government to have an accurate picture of our national profile. Such a population register will keep accurate records of births, marriages, deaths certificate and ensure that they are timeous, effectively and efficiently registered. It will further enable government to plan for social services such as basic education, health, social security, amongst others.
The ANC commends the home affairs for achieving unqualified audit in the previous financial year of 2017-18 and we urge the department to achieve the same in this financial year.
Lastly, Chairperson, we must again commend the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, good work, however, noting its budgetary constraints. The IEC since its inception has been confronted by many challenges when conducting its electoral functions but remains one of the best institutions compared to other countries. It remains a credible and trustworthy electoral management body which continues to strengthen our constitutional democracy.
The committee must advocate for more allocation towards IEC in order to improve its strategic objectives in line with its Annual Performance Plan, APA, in the next financial year. This will in turn enable the institution to replace its ailing outdated technology which includes amongst others things the zip zip machines.
Chairperson, the ANC supports this Budget Vote. Siyabonga [Thank you]. [Applause.]