The louder the noise, the emptier the vessel! [Interjections.] What members have said here has been noted. People have raised a number of issues.
Firstly, the issue of crime and corruption, regardless of who is involved, will be pursued. It really does not matter who the person is. It would have been advisable for the hon Kohler-Barnard to have emphasised that general principle, and not to see issues of fighting crime from a narrow, racialistic point of view. Once you get past that, we will know that you are genuine about fighting crime. [Interjections.]
The member has been very silent on the issue of leases this year. I do not know why, because her entire speech on last year's Budget Vote was about leases. I do not know whether this still has to do with issues of race; that somebody else is involved today. Be that as it may, we do not expect much from that quarter.
Hon Ramatlakane, we heard what you said. You complimented the police personnel members who worked hard. You also raised the issue of the manipulation of crime statistics in a specific area in Limpopo. This happened in the past and people were taken to task. Another point was the lack of action on Lt-Gen Richard Mdluli. Hon member, as you know, the Inspector-General of Intelligence is busy with that matter. The process will continue and we would like that process to be respected because this is a competent agency of government.
Sikuzwile Bab 'uNdlovu ngendaba yokuthi akuphenywe, ikakhulukazi kulaba bezobuChwepheshe bezokuXhumana, kanye noPhiko lwezokuSatshalaliswa kweziDingo, SCM. Amaphuzu abalulekile lawo owashilo, Zonke izinto ozishilo zizolandelwa. Kodwa-ke ngifuna ukusho ukuthi kubantu abaqashwayo emaphoyiseni njengamanje, sinohlelo oluthi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[We heard what you said, Mr Ndlovu, about your suggestion to launch an investigation, especially on information and communication technology and the branch that deals with service delivery, Supply Chain Management, SCM. You raised some important points: all of them will be considered. But I want to tell you, with regard to the new police recruits, that we have a programme called ...]
... "From Recruitment to Retirement", in which we look at the entire human resources value chain and say: What is it that we need to do? Where do we need to improve so that the kind of people we are talking about become history?
Hon Groenewald, I thank you for being here at the end of this Budget Vote, because normally I miss you around this time. [Interjections.] The FF Plus asked us to work with you. Government works with everybody, and we have been looking for you, but we have not been able to find you! [Laughter.] Regarding the issue of farm murders, many stakeholders are involved, such as the trade union movement and Agri SA. Everybody is involved. But, you are standing somewhere far away, across the river! Come and be part of the process. Come closer and be part of the process of fighting crime, including crime on farms. [Applause.] After all, the farms are not only about farmers. There are farm workers and their families - it is a big community. We will continue looking for you, but please come closer. You are a bit too far away!
I also noticed that you read a lot of newspapers these days. The problem with the papers is that you will find some truths in them, some untruths, some half-truths and so on. You happened to have read the wrong one. Do not depend on the papers. Any man who depends entirely on newspapers is wasting his time because you will not find the entire truth in them.
Regarding what the ACDP said ...
... Bab 'uMfundisi siyakuzwa njengoba ukhulumile. Empeleni yilungelo lakho. [Reverend, we heard what you said. In fact, it is your right.
It is all right if you do not want to support the Budget Vote, but you are labouring under the same misconception. This is the Police Budget Vote, not Justice. What happens at the National Prosecuting Agency and everywhere else has nothing to do with this Budget Vote. I think they gave you the wrong speech. They gave you one for Justice instead of Police. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, we invite members to have dinner with us at the Old Assembly Chamber after this. Thank you.
Debate concluded.