Speaker, I think personal slights like that are uncomfortable, are unparliamentary. I will not talk about the hon Esterhuizen's wife or where that wife comes from, so I would like him to refrain from that. [Interjections.]
Now, let me tell you what has been achieved by the ANC, the MPs, and the government under President Zuma, specifically in relation to issues that were raised here in the motion which, include the point that corruption has spiralled out of control. Indeed, corruption is completely unacceptable wherever it rears its head, whatever the level it is at. We, all of us, ought to be extremely concerned at all times. We, in the ANC, have expressed ourselves and our concern about this matter and have highlighted it every step of the way. [Interjections.] Specifically, the President has done so every time he has been here for his state of the nation address.
Just to put the matter into perspective: Corruption existed in this country long before the democratic dispensation. Our concern is that it should not have settled into a modus operandi of this dispensation, nor should it have been allowed to continue. What we seek to emphasise, which is very important, is that corruption is a societal problem and can only be solved by all of us dealing with it decisively. [Interjections.] It is by its very nature very pervasive, and it corrodes every sphere of society, whether it is civil society, the private sector, or the public sector.
Hon members, let me tell you what this government has done in the judicial institutions. The state has increased its capacity to curb corruption. The capacity of the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, has grown from 70 staff members in 2003 to 600 currently. From 2003, the SIU has saved government R1,6 billion. [Interjections.] It has prevented future losses of R16 billion. That is what we have done. It has recovered R87 million. [Applause.] In addition, it has stopped R2,06 billion, of which R1,8 billion is in one department alone. As at 31 December, the President had signed ... [Interjections.]