Chairperson, firstly I would like to congratulate the hon Minister for his impeccable leadership and his directive in fighting and delivering a peaceful and crime-free South Africa. Secondly, I would like to compliment Gen Bheki Cele for his hands-on approach.
We must also award true accolades to the security establishment, especially the SAPS, for the international co-ordination and the state of preparedness for the mega-event, the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
There is one thing that is absolutely certain and it is that we will have a trouble-free 2010 Fifa World Cup. Show me a country where there is no crime. The MF strongly believes that it is the responsibility of every individual who breathes South African air and who lives on South African soil, to intensify the fight to deliver a crime-free South Africa, irrespective of our race, colour and political affiliation.
Despite the numerous challenges, we must honour our policemen and policewomen who very diligently and under extremely difficult circumstance, perform their duties. They even go to the extent of laying down their lives in the course of executing their duties to protect South Africans.
However, I want to make an appeal to the hon Minister that great care should be taken in the selection of new recruits. There must be a distinction between the person who just wants the job for a salary and the person who has the aptitude and wants to be a career policeman or policewoman.
I further want to know how it is that the first and second police commissioners of colour of Gauteng came from Chatsworth, yet outstanding policemen and women cannot rise to great heights in KwaZulu-Natal. You don't take a ruler and measure affirmative action. It is high time that we move away from race and other negative factors.
We need a special force within the Hawks to deal with lifestyle and unaccounted-for enrichment. We must ensure that corruption in the public and private sector reaches a zero-tolerance level.
On the whole, the MF supports the Minister's budget and without a shadow of doubt we are very positive about the manner in which the hon Minister handles his affairs. [Applause.]
Undoubtedly, praise must be awarded to Gen Bheki Cele. He has been an outstanding MEC and the manner in which he handles his affairs is commendable. [Applause.]
The time is right. It is now or never. Let us all commit ourselves and march forward with courage, conviction and determination. Let us never stop until each and every one of us lives up to our responsibility as public representatives to make South Africa a peaceful and crime-free country. Thank you.