Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised hansard

House: National Council of Provinces

Date of Meeting: 08 Jun 2022

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE 2022
Watch: Plenary
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVIINCES
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The Council met at 14:00.
The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon delegates, before we proceed I would like to remind you of the following:
the virtual sitting constitutes a sitting of the National Council of Provinces. the place of the sitting is deemed to be Cape Town where the seat of the National Council of Provinces is.
Delegates in the virtual sitting enjoy the same powers and privileges that apply in a sitting of the National Council of Provinces. And for the purpose of the quorum, all delegates who are logged on to the virtual platform shall be considered
present.

Delegates must switch on their videos if they want to speak and they should ensure that the microphones and their gadgets are muted and must always remain muted unless they are speaking.
The interpretation facility is active.
Members of the executive, permanent delegates and others are requested to ensure that the interpretation facility on their gadgets are properly activated to facilitate access to the interpretation services.
Any delegate who wishes to speak must use the ‘raise hand’ function. And any delegate who wishes to raise a point of order should, in accordance with Rule 69(3) indicate in terms of which rule he/she is rising. I have also been informed that there will be no notices of motions or motions without notice.
Before we proceed to the First Order, let me take this opportunity to welcome the Ministers and the Deputy Ministers of Home Affairs; Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, MECs and all special and permanent delegates to the House.

Hon delegates and ... I just want to, specially, welcome the Ministry of Women with which we are working very closely, in
terms of the programmes that we are running. But also a special welcome to hon Motswaledi and his Deputy also.
We will now proceed to the First Order.

APPROPRIATION BILL
(Policy debate)
Budget Vote No 5 - Home Affairs:

The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Chairperson, unfortunately the technical team in the NCOP were still helping me to try and get the parliamentary background, I don’t have it. Can I continue, nevertheless?

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Yes. We will make sure that next time you’ll definitely have that background. But you may continue.
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: My apologies.

The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I don’t think it is ... ja
[yes] ... it’s fine, it’s really fine. We want the content of your debate. We will see it to it that you get the background later.
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Hon House Chairperson, my colleague, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, hon Mr Njabulo Nzuza, hon Chairperson of Select Committee on Security and Justice, Ms Shaida Shaikh, hon members of the Select Committee on Security and Justice and hon members of the National
Council of Provinces, the Director-General of the Department, Mr Tommy Makhode, the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Mike Masiapato, and his team, the Commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, led by Commissioner Ms Janet Love and Chief Executive Officer, CEO,
Mr Sy Mamabolo, the CEO of the Government Printing Works, GPW, Ms Alinah Fosi, and her team, members of the media, ladies and
gentlemen, good afternoon.
I have the honour of updating this House on the progress we are making in delivering on the key priorities of the
Department of Home Affairs in serving citizens better.

It is not rocket science to guess that after ... [Sound
overlapped.] ... the long queues in Home Affairs ... it will
be expected because it is glaring and badly affects by all the
citizens. It gives me sleepless nights but also prompts me
and the department into action. But to take action, one needs
to know, understand and analyse the causes.
While the causes are many and varied, I wish to specifically
pick up the two important ones. f these too are not resolved,
then even if the others are severally resolved, it will still
not make no dent. These two most important ones are system’s
downtime and shortage of warm bodies in front offices, warm
bodies who must service the public in an efficient and timely
manner because no human being enjoys standing in a queue for a
long time.
As you will know the department consists of two main arms: The
Civic Services and Immigration. I will start with Civic
Services because this is by far the biggest arm of the
department.
As I have already mentioned, system downtime simply means the
number of times and the duration during which our Information
Technology, IT, system is down and unavailable for processing

of documents. In my previous speech I have referred to it as
the original sin. Some members of the public simply understand
it as Home Affairs computers that fail to function and the
department that is unwilling to fix them.
I want to mention that system downtime is a failure of the
whole system network, rather than just computers that needs to
be fixed. These systems are mainly, State Information
Technology Agency, SITA, networks which provide IT services
for state departments. And, of course, Home Affairs also has
its own system which interact with SITA systems to provide the
wholeness of the IT services. Last year both SITA and the
Department of Home Affairs were summoned to appear in front of
the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in Parliament in the
National Assembly to outline clear plans to deal with this
perennial problem once and for all.
Let me outline here the plan and the progress made up so far.
I’ll start with revamping the old network. SITA has informed
us that they are spending R400 million to revamp its entire
network; having just completed a procurement process in this
regard. This revamp will be concluded in the third quarter of
this financial year. This revamp will help to stabilise the
network.

Secondly, implementing the Software Define Network, SDN. This
work has been concluded by SITA and will assist in increasing
our bandwidth due to the number of applications we use at
Civics. This will increase our connectivity.
Thirdly, internet capacity. I am not aware of any other
government department that consume as much internet services
as Home Affairs does. Virtually, internet services are a sine
qua non [an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely
necessary] of the existence of the Department of Home Affairs.
SITA has now doubled its internet capacity and introduced
three failovers located in three cities, in Tshwane, Cape Town
and eThekwini. This will ensure that if any of the network is
down, there will be two more to support the services. Members
of the portfolio committee in the National Assembly have
always asked about something called redundancy, meaning backup
connection or network, hence this failovers in the three
cities will assist in the redundancy.
Fourthly, development plan for cybersecurity. SITA has
finalised its procurement plan to address cybersecurity for
our IT infrastructure. This will be implemented during this
financial year once the law enforcement agencies have given
approval. All in all, SITA has committed to spend R1 billion

on IT infrastructure to support the Department of Home Affairs
and others. But we all know that the Department of Home
Affairs will be one of the major beneficiaries.
Fifthly, the roll-out of switches and routers. The department,
itself, has installed new 136 routers and 150 switches in 136
offices, and we still need to install 112 routers and 68
switches, which have already been bought.
Sixth, bringing in engineers from the banks. Two weeks ago I
told the National Assembly that we have reached an agreement
with a leading bank to bring eight IT engineers to assist to
stabilise our network and help install some key IT
infrastructure. Today, I can announce that, as I am speaking
to you now, these eight IT specialists are in a meeting with
the Department of Home Affairs, the State Information
Technology Agency and SA Revenue Services, SARS, in a marathon
meeting that started at 08h30 this morning and will end at
16h30 this afternoon. This meeting will identify key
interventions on IT infrastructure and networking capability
to improve frontline system availability and delivery.
You may remember that I had announced as far back as 2019 that
we had arranged with the banks to offer some Home Affairs

 
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services like ID and passports in their branches. But to do
so, the banks need the Home Affairs and SITA systems to get
into the National Population Register. The banks were very
enthusiastic about this plan, but later on we noticed that the
uptake is slow. And we then discovered that the banks are
weary of our system downtime because this will cause
reputational damage to them. Hence we spoke to them and said,
look, come and ... [Sound cut off.] to stabilize our system
because then it will allow you to open your branches for Home
Affairs services, and that’s how we end up with these eight IT
experts from the bank.
Seventh, the SA Connect. This was a ... [Sound cut off.] ...
the hon Minister of Communications and ... [Sound cut off.]
... Technologies and new technologies to connect schools,
clinics, police stations and Home Affairs offices. But we
believe Home Affairs will be the major beneficiary.
Eighth, installing generators. Apart from downtime due to SITA
and Home Affairs network, we are also troubled by
loadshedding. We have installed generators in our 197
modernised offices but our remaining 215 non-modernised
offices, especially in rural areas, are not operational during

 
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every loadshedding episode, and further increasing the long
queues.
Then there is the national scourge which Home Affairs is
particularly vulnerable to, cable theft. On the 26th of April
this year, there was a headline in the Daily Dispatch, a
newspaper publication in the Eastern Cape, which simply read:
Cable theft shuts Home Affairs. While technicians from SITA
were able to resolve this, it took two days to install new
cables, leaving the entire province of the Eastern Cape unable
to access services. Again, and needless to say, members of the
public simply believe ... aah, there goes Home Affairs
computers again, and they express their anger through abusive
phone calls and e- ... [Sound overlapped.] WhatsApp messages.
When we encounter this we deploy mobile trucks to some of
these areas affected by cable theft, but the level of anger is
always high. National Joint Operational and Intelligence
Structure, NATJOINTS, is trying their best to deal with this
matter but it’s a killer punch to Home Affairs to have cables
stolen.
Ninth, purpose-built Home Affairs offices. We have long
decried the need to have purpose-built Home Affairs offices in

 
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the same way as police stations, clinics and schools are
serving the public and they are not hired from anybody.
Unfortunately, Home Affairs offices are hired from somebody
who has built them for another purpose, and so they are not
purpose-built. But we have started, we are spending, this
year, R181 million in constructing purpose-built offices. Last
year we completed construction and now are operating such a
modern purpose-built office in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.
Construction is progressing very well in Thohoyandou and
Mokopane in Limpopo, in Taung in the North West and work has
recently started in Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal. We also intend
to build similar modernised offices in Hlabisa and Harding in
KwaZulu-Natal, Randfontein in Gauteng and Mhala in Mpumalanga
in the 2023-24 financial year.
In addition, we have registered 15 offices with the
Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Council to be built
through a Private Public Partnership, PPP, for a high volume
office. In Gauteng there are two offices, namely, the Byron
Place office in Tshwane and the Harrison Street office in
Johannesburg. In the Eastern Cape we have identified Buffalo
City, Gqeberha and Mthatha. In KwaZulu-Natal it’s Pinetown and
uMgungundlovu. In Mpumalanga, eMalahleni and Mbombela. In
Limpopo it’s in Polokwane.

 
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Tenth, Home Affairs offices in malls. Two weeks ago I
announced that we are opening Home Affairs offices in some
malls in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. This
move will enable us to offer services in improved conditions
in that malls have ample parking spaces and can offer shelter
away from the sun and the rain. We have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding, MoU, already with the owners of the malls to
enable us to move and we are going to Menlyn Mall as early as
September this year. We’ll then rollover to the other malls
and the other cities.
Since that announcement, a number of companies that own malls
have contacted. They are very much interested in this and we
are finalizing the areas where we’ll choose these malls
together with the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research, CSIR, which helped us to identify what we call an
access model. Meaning where to place offices in terms of
population density and service delivery imperatives.
Other malls that we are expanding to will be Cresta Mall and
Southgate Mall in Johannesburg, ... [Sound overlapped.]
Tygervalley Mall in Cape Town.

 
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Eleventh, the appointment booking system. The biggest
statement we are making today in embracing ways of waging the
war on queues is the rollout of the online booking system
called the Branch Appointment Booking System, BABS. This
system is used to book appointments only for Smart-ID cards
and passports. It was piloted in 29 of our busiest urban and
rural offices. The Lusikisiki office in the eastern Cape is
also part of this pilot.
The results of this pilot have given us confidence that we can
roll it out to decrease long queues. The pilot started in
December 2021 and since we started, a total of 44 307 people
have used the system between December 2021 and 31 May 2022;
that is last month. Our target is to rollout the booking
system to all our 43 large offices by the end of June and we
are on track to do so. I think the Deputy Minister is going to
expatiate more on this programme.
Twelfth, staffing the department. Some five years ago Treasury
ordered that no new posts must be filled, even if they have
been funded before. This led to havoc in Home Affairs where
the staffing in our frontline offices plummeted to a low of
39%, in terms of capacity. But this year Treasury has given us
R266 million just to make a start in dealing with this

 
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unsavoury state of affairs. This money will enable us to hire
764 extra employees. Unfortunately, it will only take us to
42% capacity from the present 39%.
Thirteenth, we also deploy mobile offices in the form of
trucks. They visit our communities and especially schools
because we don’t want to see learners queuing at Home Affairs.
This is one of the most effective ways of taking services to
the. Home Affairs have 100 trucks; we have bought 10 more for
R15 million. In this financial year we are going to buy 15
more for R20 million. These trucks will also increase a
footprint and we aim to increase them by 100% in the following
financial years. These trucks are the ones that helped us to
speedily provide replacement IDs and birth certificates to
people who lost their documents because of the recent floods
in KwaZulu-Natal.
Fourteenth, the issue of digitization. Chairperson, you may
remember that in the state of the nation address, the
President announced that Home Affairs is going to hire 10 000
unemployed graduates for a period of two to three years to
digitize 300 million paper records. Our paper records stretch
from 1895, and unfortunately they are all manual. They
contribute to the long queues because people have to come to

 
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Home Affairs many times while information is being sort from
the archives.
Fifteenth, on the issue of migration. This is another area of
concern. I don’t have to outline what is going on about it,
everybody knows it’s a crisis. However, if I were to start
analysing what’s happening in migration, it will need its own
budget speech. For the moment it will suffice to say we have
decided on a complete overhaul of the immigration system of
the country. And complete overhaul means exactly that. Very
soon I’ll be unveiling it to you. People just ought to be
patient.
You are aware, hon members, we have now implemented the Border
Management Authority, BMA, after NCOP helped us to amend it
and send it back to the National Assembly, for which we need
to thank members of the NCOP very hardly. Now, we have hired
the first cohort of Border Guards from Limpopo, Mpumalanga,
Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Free State. That means communities
around the borders and they are busy implementing.
The Border Management Authority will be a 3A Public Entity by
1st July 2023, following a processes with the National

 
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Assembly. Because presently it is still incubated as a branch
in Home Affairs.
We have also registered the PPP project with the Presidency
for what is called a One-Stop-Border-Post, OSBP. What is it?
It is a massive infrastructural improvement of six busiest
ports of entry, being Beit Bridge with Zimbabwe, Lebombo with
Mozambique, Kopfontein with Botswana, Oshoek with eSwatini,
Maseru with Lesotho, Ficksburg with Lesotho. These ... [Sound
overlapped.] ... continental free trade ... because at the
moment is just in words.
Hon members will recall that the One-Stop Border Post Policy
was approved by Cabinet in March this year.
Sixteenth, on the issue of counter corruption. We remain
unflinching in commitment to fight corruption. You are aware
that we have been arresting people. And since we have been
arresting people, especially the Pakistani Kingpin in our
Krugersdorp office. Members of the public have come out in
large numbers to tip us where corruption is taking place and
we arrest, we don’t stop.

 
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This morning, I can confirm to you that, we have just
suspended four officials working at the Maponya Mall Home
Affairs offices in Soweto who have been found to be linked to
the Pakistani Kingpin on passport fraud; the Kingpin who was
arrested on the 24th of August in our Krugersdorp offices.
In the coming weeks we will continue to arrest more people,
both foreign nationals and South Africans involved in
passports fraud and other forms of identity fraud.
The success of this unit has given members of the public a lot
of confidence. And this unit is not just reactive, it studies
our systems and identify loopholes that encourage fraud and
other acts of malfeasance and propose appropriate solutions.
For this reason, we are going to augment the 13 members of
this anticorruption unit with 12 more who, amongst them, will
be analysts, will be investigators and all sorts of skilled
people.
Chairperson, I wish to present a budget of R9,4 billion for
Budget Vote Number 5 – Department of Home Affairs, for the
consideration of this House. Thank you very much.

 
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Ms S SHAIKH: Thank you very much, Deputy Chairperson, can I
request that I turn off my video if I am allowed. We are
currently in the Eastern Cape doing oversight work with the
Joint Ad Hoc Committee, and I am a bit concerned about the
bandwidth on this side if you allow me?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: You are allowed, hon
Shaikh, you may continue.
Ms S SHAIKH: Thank you very much, Deputy Chairperson,
greetings to yourself, to the Minister of Home Affairs Dr
Motsoaledi, the Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza, the Minister
for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, members of the
executive council, MECs, delegates of the National Council of
Provinces, compatriots, comrades and friends. Hon Chair, as we
debate Budget Vote 5 of the Department of Home Affairs, we do
so during the youth month. We remember the selflessness,
courage and resilience of the youth of 1976. Central to their
fight was the restoration of human dignity and justice. We pay
tribute to the endless heroism of the youth. In the words of
President Mandela:

 
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Young people are capable, when aroused, of bringing down
the towers of oppression and raising the banners of
freedom.
Indeed, the South Africa we have today is a far cry from what
we had then.
The department’s strategic outcomes are linked with a major
focus of the National Development Plan, NDP, which is to
confront the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and
unemployment by enabling a higher economic growth rate. The
department plays a significant role in the inclusion of all
citizens in democracy and development is enabled by providing
them with a status and an identity that gives them access to
rights and services. The department further facilitates the
acquisition of the critical skills needed for economic growth.
The department continues to drive integrated and co-ordinated
border management to ensure our borders are effectively
protected, secured and well-managed. The department plays a
key role in enabling regional development by working with SADC
countries through the Department of International Relations
and Co-operation to establish efficient, secure and managed
migration. The Department of Home Affairs is central to
harnessing the 4th Industrial Revolution and building a

 
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capable state. The modernisation programme of the department
can reduce fraud and the cost of doing business by enabling e-
government which will attract more investment into the
country.
In order to contribute to job creation and fighting the
unemployment crisis facing the country, the President
announced during his state of nation address that as part of
his Presidential Employment Stimulus Package, the department
will recruit 10 000 unemployed graduates to digitize over
300 million documents dating back from 1895 over the next
three years. This is part of the department’s strategy to curb
corruption and fraud because it would be easier to trace the
original documents such as birth certificates, identity cards,
passports, and other civic documents.
All South Africans are dependent on the Department of Home
Affairs because of its sole mandate to secure and manage
official identity and status. The Department of Home Affairs’
services are divided into two broad categories: Civic services
and immigration services.
The Department of Home Affairs’ vision is that of a South
Africa where identity, status and citizenship are key enablers

 
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of citizen empowerment and inclusivity, economic development
and national security. The Department of Home Affairs’ mission
is to: Being an efficient and secure custodian of citizenship
and civil registration; securely and strategically managing
the international migration; efficiently managing
asylumseekers and refugees; and efficiently determining and
safeguarding the official identity and status of persons.
It is a fact that South Africa has a problem of porous
borders. The historical fragmented border management approach
has not assisted. The many problems associated with porous
borders are trafficking of women and children, the smuggling
of drugs, stolen goods, counterfeit goods and contraband.
Counterfeit and the illicit goods trade cause immeasurable
harm to our already strained economy and the local economy
suffers the most. The consequence of porous borders is the
undermining of the security of a nation and its economic
development. Furthermore, no economy can flourish in an
insecure environment.
In 2013, Cabinet agreed on the establishment of the Border
Management Authority, BMA. Guided by the National Development
Plan 2030, the ANC’s 54th national conference reaffirmed the
thrust of the mandate as outlined in the NDP that South

 
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Africa’s borders are effectively safeguarded, secured and
well-managed. The conference accepted the security assessment
which identified four categories of threats facing South
Africa which are: Threats to the territorial integrity of the
Republic; threats to the authority of the state; threats to
the safety and wellbeing of South Africans; and threats to the
country’s economic development.
The ANC believes that in order to address the question of
irregular migration and border management, the BMA be
expedited and implemented. The ANC government took a decision
to establish a Border Management Authority to take
responsibility for all functions related to the management of
our borders in an integrated manner.
The President signed into law the Border Management Authority
Act of 2020 and the Act became effective 1 January 2021. This
was a critical step towards the establishment of the BMA,
which will enable the implementation of an integrated border
management approach in South Africa. The BMA will have
jurisdiction for implementing border law enforcement mandates
such as facilitation and management of the legitimate movement
of persons and goods within the border law enforcement areas
and at ports of entry.

 
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We appreciate the appointments of the BMA Commissioner and
Deputy Commissioner. It has been reported that the BMA is
continuing with its recruitment process to fill critical
vacant posts. We are confident that the BMA will be fully
operationalised within the targeted period and it will play a
critical role in addressing our vulnerabilities and challenges
of porous borders.
We are aware that the BMA is still a branch incubated in the
department of Home Affairs and they are hard at work to ensure
that the BMA will be a stand-alone, listed as a Schedule 3A
public entity BY July 2023. The BMA Act provides for 9
Ministers to be part of an interministerial committee selected
by the President. The BMA Interministerial Consultative
Committee and BMA Border Technical Committee have been
established.
As aforementioned, the department of Home Affairs serves all
citizens and migrants who enter the country legally. The issue
of long queues at the department is a huge challenge. Long
queues and system downtime affects everyone. In response to
long queues at the Home Affairs offices, the Minister
indicated that there are short, medium and long-term solutions
to this problem. Amongst some of the measures to address this,

 
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the department has rolled out 100 mobile trucks and procured
an additional 10 mobile trucks to expand its footprint. It
approved 350 posts which are allocated to civic services to
capacitate front offices, introduce and rollout the Branch
Application Booking System to eliminate long queues in the
front offices. A memorandum of understanding, MOU, has been
finalised to conclude public-private partnership with banks.
Once stable connectivity is achieved, the department will
focus on online booking systems as this seems to be working
well. This will obviate the need for people to buy space in
queues and counter corruption which is difficult to deal with.
We urge the department to continue working on addressing this
issue of long queues and ensuring better service delivery.
The war waged against the bodies of women and children is
relentless and is at such a heightened level. Last year, the
President declared gender-based violence as the second
pandemic. Gender-based violence goes against the ethos of the
Bill of Rights. It is a serious human ... [Interjections.] ...
rights violation with major social and developmental impacts
for survivors of violence, as well as their families,
communities and society at large ...

 
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The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon members, can you
please mute those that are not on the platform. I am sorry,
hon Shaikh, but there is some kind of disturbance. You may
continue. I am sorry for that.
The department reported that there is a gender-based violence
and femicide, GBVF, plan and indicated that their sexual
harassment policy needed to be revisited. The department
indicated that the policy has been improved and that the
implementation plan includes awareness sessions talking to
both men and women within the department and providing
information on what needs to be done and mechanisms that are
in place to ensure proper reporting to address matters
quickly. The department is working with other stakeholders.
The department offers support to officials in cases where GBVF
has been reported and they are putting together communication
material so that clients also know the steps they should take
when experiencing such incidents. We urge the department to
continue its awareness raising initiatives in respect of GBVF
and ensure that officials receive the necessary information as
well as support.
The ANC is committed to fighting corruption. Minister
Motsoaledi established a ministerial committee headed by the

 
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former Director-General in The Presidency, Dr Cassius Lubisi,
to review all the permits issued since 2004. This is the year
in which immigration came into effect. The committee will
review various permits including all the Permanent Residence
Permits; business and study visas, identity documents,
passports and birth certificates. They have high value and the
DHA is under constant attack by local and international
criminal syndicates. Cybercrime is also on the rise.
The department has, over the years committed to strengthening
the work of the Counter Corruption Unit, of uprooting fraud,
bribery and corruption inside and outside the system. We have
seen some results.
In March this year, as the Minister indicated, a Pakistan
kingpin was nabbed in a midnight sting operation in the
department’s Krugersdorp office. The department reported that
it vowed that it would follow up all the members of the
passport fraud syndicate, whether foreign nationals or South
Africans.
A senior Home Affairs official in the White River office in
Mpumalanga was arrested together with four South African
citizens who are part of the passport fraud syndicates. The

 
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four citizens were transported from Eldorado Park in Gauteng
to the Home Affairs office in White River, to give up their
identities for passport fraud for a measly R500 per person.
This treasonous act of facilitating identity transfer directly
attacks the values and ethos of our Constitution.
The successful operation was carried out by the Home Affairs
Counter Corruption Branch, working with other law enforcement
agencies including the SA Police Service, the Hawks and Crime
Intelligence. There are many other reports of the department’s
efforts in cleaning the decay. We appreciate these efforts and
encourage the department to keep doing the good work it does
without fear or favour.
Regarding convictions, the department works closely with the
Hawks. It has been reported that there is a lot of work going
on in terms of disciplinary action, however some cases go to
the labour courts three times through the appeals system,
which are lengthy and creates further delays. The Minister has
indicated that the Counter Corruption Unit intends filling 12
posts to strengthen the Counter Corruption Unit.
We urge the department to maximize its efforts to address
fraud and corruption and work closely with the relevant law

 
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enforcement agencies to ensure that arrests are made speedily.
Through its collaborative work with law enforcement agencies
and communities, the department should also continue to curb
illegal migration.
The department should work towards digitization of all its
manual documents and address the challenges it has in respect
of IT capacity which will further contribute towards efficient
service delivery in all provinces.
The department should find lasting solutions to the filling of
vacancies and continue to collaborate with institutions of
higher learning and to use interns to fill posts. The
department should address this as a matter of urgency,
particularly in respect of the filling of vacancies of
frontline staff.
The department should continue to rollout more mobile units as
this will increase the reach of the department especially in
rural areas and ultimately improve service delivery. The ANC
supports the Budget Vote of Home Affairs. I thank you very
much.

 
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Ms C VISSER: Thank you, Deputy Chair; hon members; hon
Minister; the Deputy Ministers and all protocols observed. Hon
Minister, in July 2019, you stated that simple interactions
with Home Affairs might become a nightmare for South African
citizens. Here, I can agree with you, hon Minister, turning
Home Affairs into hell affairs being held hostage by an
information technology, IT, system.
There is literally not one section of Home Affairs hell
affairs that is not understaffed, under capacitated, under
resourced in noncompliance to deliver services to such an
extent that South Africans are now also forced to utilise the
fraudulent war on queuing services allowed to by the
department to openly run their business as being part of the
system, further contributing to the complete failure of
service and the dissatisfaction of extremely trusted citizens.
Fragile, aged and disabled citizens who are not being able to
fight the wars on long queueing hell affairs nightmare
experiences repetitively without receiving the documents
required from the department equals inhumanity.
Recently it was published how intellectually disabled learners
from the Itumeleng School in Gauteng have been struggling to
get their identification document from Home Affairs for years.

 
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An 18-year-old student of this school ... [Inaudible.] ... an
inter-house athletics competition but is unable to compete
provincially or nationally because she cannot present the
needed documents. Home Affairs turned their lives into hell
affairs. Although Home Affairs website provides a list of 12
banks where smart identification cards can be processed, this
service is only available from one bank in Cape Town. Phoning
the other banks to establish its port ID cards can be obtained
from them, it was confirmed that the plan could not be
successfully implemented by the department.
Hon Minister, recently I had to assist South African parents
working on a fixed contract in Zambia, who tried for 15 months
to register their baby boy at the South African Embassy in
Lusaka without success. The Department of Home Affairs
officials operating within the embassy were dragging their
feet for 15 months, sending them from pillar to post, not
following the processes as appears for birth registrations on
your website. Most of the time these officials were not even
at office for a set appointment. Instead, the officials
referred them to the Zambian offices of birth registrations
whilst Zambian legislation only allows birth registrations
with babies born in Zambia from Zambian citizens.

 
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On their return to South Africa, the Zambian authorities
refused to let the child return with the parents and
threatened to place the child in an orphanage. This was a hell
affairs nightmare, where Member of Parliament, Khanyile, and I
had to resolve this inhumane issue of incompetence. Mr Thomas
Sigama, the deputy director-general at Home Affairs, stated in
the media that parents should register their children within
30 days of birth, of which most parents proudly want to comply
with, but listening to the hell parents go through to get a
birth registration done is impossible and boils down to
incompetence of management.
Queries submitted to the department spokesperson are only that
the department is working on it, but no further response is
received to any follow ups thereafter. Georgina Strydom was
adopted by her biological father after her about her
biological mother signed her off at the court judgment in
2018. Despite the court order, all relevant documents driving
up and down from Bloemhof to Wolmaransstad in the North West,
then sent to offices in Bloemfontein in the Free State, then
to Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape fighting your war on
queuing closed offices, system failures, officials eating,
drinking and watching videos on their smartphones resulted to
noncompliance of her service.

 
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A hell affairs nightmares may still ongoing leading this young
girl in an identity crisis with legal implications explaining
why her surname differs from that of her parents because she
is not entitled to receive the services of Home Affairs, hell
affairs. Hon Minister, the department has a constitutional and
statutory mandate to provide services to the public, including
birth registration, identity documentation, immigration
status, citizenship, death certificates and much more. This is
the department’s job. Citizens approach Home Affairs offices
not requesting a favor from them, but exercising their rights
and complying within the set legislation of the land, citizens
of South Africa are entitled to efficient and transparent
services at Home Affairs.
Sadly, we must concede that the Department of Home Affairs is
failing the citizens of South Africa within every service and
in every office truly creating anger in frustrated citizens.
We must acknowledge the collapse of the Department of Home
Affairs as much as we do the collapse of ANC-run
municipalities in South Africa. I thank you.
Mr M S MOLETSANE: Thank you, Chairperson. Let me apologise for
not switching on my video as I am standing in for hon
Zandamela. Chairperson, the Economic Freedom Fighters reject

 
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the proposed Budget Vote for the Department of Home Affairs.
One of the major responsibilities of the public sector is to
ensure that all citizens have access to and receive services.
Yet, despite its numerous regional offices spread across the
country, this department has not been effective in the
performance of functions such as the regulation of migration,
registration of births, marriages and deaths, the issuing of
identity documents and passports.
The department stands as one of the most dysfunctional
departments in government, which is concerning to note as the
services of the Department of Home Affairs are central to the
everyday life of South Africans and immigrants in the country.
We reject the Budget Vote for a department which is headed by
a Minister which has on numerous occasions, displayed
Afrophobic tendencies towards African nationals, blaming
African immigrants on several occasions for clogging up
service delivery in this country without a shred of evidence.
The solution to migration is the development of the African
Continent and the creation of massive industries that will
create sustainable jobs not the criminalisation of Africans
who were born on this continent. The Minister has also failed
to deal decisively with the deadlock of asylumseekers who have

 
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been waiting for many years for a decision of their
application for asylum. We reject the Budget Vote of the
department which is known for nothing but its disheartening
queues which often starts at the early hours of the morning
beyond entrances of the majority of the branches of Home
Affairs.
Long queues have become a permanent feature outside Home
Affairs offices across all provinces from Johannesburg, to
East London and Cape Town. Despite a war on queues campaign
having been initiated with the majority of the offices across
all provinces suffering from the chronic problem of having
their systems offline almost all the time, Johannesburg and
King Williams town offices are forever offline, so much so
that no one actually knows what the staff of Home Affairs are
doing at these offices. When offices are operational, the
service received from staff is often appalling. The situation
is worse for those areas which are in the outskirts of town
and rural areas which simply do not have access and as a
result, our people have to travel long distance to start
queuing at 4h00 at Home Affairs offices, only to be assisted
at 10h00 and then told to return the following day because the
systems are offline.

 
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It has been almost two months since floods hit KwaZulu-Natal
and some parts of the Eastern Cape, yet our people cannot get
social assistance because they are still without identity
documents. The Department of Home Affairs emergency operation
functions like any other Home Affairs office in the country.
In the past five years, committee budgets and recommendation
reports have all amended the shambolic state of Home Affairs
offices. Yet to date, none of the issues have been resolved
instead the Minister comes here every day to ridicule Members
of Parliament giving an impression that he knows it all and he
is doing something when on the ground Home Affairs workers are
suffering and our people are stranded every day at Home
Affairs offices.
There exists a lack of leadership at Home Affairs, and Mr
Motsoaledi has no capacity to lead a department such as Home
Affairs. As the EFF, we therefore, reject the budget of a
department which offers such poor services, lack of
information, lack of guidance, unprofessional staff and never
ending technical problems. We reject the budget of a
department which has outdated offices located in areas which
are not accessible to our people. We reject the budget of a
department which lacks backup network and works with outdated
equipment leading to its branches going offline.

 
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The continued reliance on State Information Technology Agency,
Sita, and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
without a solution inside is a sign of the collective
incompetence of the ruling party. The State Information
Technology Agency prides itself on being the government's
biggest consumer of information technology, IT, goods and
services because it relies on contractors who inflate prices
and do poor work. Chairperson, we reject the budget of the
hopeless state of department which year after year remains the
laughingstock of civil service.
Setswana:
Ke a leboga, Modulasetilo.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Hon Chairperson, Minister
of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Ministers and Deputy
Ministers present, and Chairperson of the Select Committee on
Security and Justice, members of the Select Committee on
Security and Justice, the Director-General of the Department
of Home Affairs, the management team, BMA Commissioners and
fellow South Africans, it gives us great pleasure and honour
to join the policy debate for Budget Vote 5, Home Affairs.
Chair, these debates are crucial for us as a department to
share what the resources allocated the Department of Home

 
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Affairs are able to make in improving the lives of the people.
It is through such debates where we get a platform on what we
intend to do with the resources and what we were able to do
with the resources allocated to us in the previous years.
The Department of Home Affairs carries the responsibility to
ensure that no South African under any circumstances suffers
the scandal of invisibility. This, we do by managing
citizenship and civil registration. Chairperson, our
commitment, resolve and ability to respond even in times of
crisis were put to the test during the floods that ravaged
KZN, Eastern Cape and other parts of our country.
The Department of Home Affairs responded to this crisis by
deploying nine mobile units which have serviced 41 sites. We
have serviced 2 224 citizens for ID smart card applications
and issued 349 birth certificates on the spot. The reissue of
both ID smart cards and birth certificates were at no cost to
citizens understanding that this was a disaster situation. The
disastrous situation also displayed the capabilities of our
mobile units to service people in areas in which they live
taking both application and issuing of enabling documents.

 
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We are currently operating a fleet of 100 mobile units, which
also provide support to high volume offices and offices under
distress. In the past financial year, the budget allowed us to
conduct visits to 2 056 sites. This fleet has also been able
to service 131 164 clients and school learners with ID smart
card applications in the 2021-22 financial year. This resulted
into citizens saving thousands of rands in travel costs that
would have been incurred had they gone to our offices.
The 2021-22 budget allowed us to procure additional 10 mobile
units which are ready for deployment. We will be procuring a
further 15 of these mobile units in the 2022-23 financial
year. Through the mobile units, we are better placed to reach
out to areas where there is little or no Home Affairs
footprint, especially in rural and remote areas. The mobile
units are also the backbone of our school Smart ID Campaign,
which has benefited both urban and rural schools.
Using mobile units, we have been able to target learners
ensuring that South African learners doing Grade 12 sit for
their examinations already in possession of a Smart ID Card.
We have now also placed a focus to Grade 11 which saw the
number of learners starting their Grade 12 without identity
documents reduced from 8 186 in 2020 to only 2 560 in 2021

 
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academic year. In the period, we visited 1011 schools working
in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. The
additional mobile units purchased and the ones to be purchased
in the new financial year will extend our reach and greatly
enhance our school ID campaigns. Those who reject the budget
are therefore rejecting our ability to go further and advance
in servicing children in schools.
Chairperson, the 2021-2022 budget allowed us to issue a total
of 2 369 172 smart ID cards. This would not have been able to
do if we are forever offline. The figures are more accurate
than was perception. This surpassing the targeted of 1,6
Million, despite the limitations imposed on operations by the
COVID-19 pandemic and its management and preventative
measures. Of the smart ID cards issued, 966 068 were for
first-time applicants comprising mainly of the youth. It is a
significant improvement compared to the 622 000 issued to
first time applicants in the previous financial year. It is
indicative of the impact and the improvements we are making in
the lives of young people of our country. This we can never
do, Chairperson, without the resources and the budget that we
are deliberating upon today.

 
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The budget allocation for the financial year 2022-23 has
allowed us to increase the planned issue of Smart ID cards
with 37,5%, which is 600 000 more than the previous financial
year, which means that in the 2022-23 financial year we will
issue 2,2 million Smart ID Cards to citizens attaining the age
of 16 years and above. We continue to make steady progress
towards universal birth registration. We strive to build a
credible, accurate and secure National Population Register,
NPR, with a single point of entry, within the first 30
calendar days of birth.
In 2021-22, we had set a target of registering 700 000 births
within 30 days. However, surpassed this target by registering
a total of 1 018 718 births, of which 800 057 accounting for
78,5% were registered within 30 calendar days. This percentage
is up from 73,7% of the previous financial year. We intend to
normalise early birth registration at above 90% by the year
2024. That is why we promote parents to make sure that they
register the birth of their children within 30 days. Part of
the strategy in this regard, to make it easier, is to expand
our office footprint in health facilities, in order to bring
Home Affairs services closer to the people. In this way,
parents can register their children before leaving the
hospital or health facilities – a service which is more

 
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convenient than planning a visit to Home Affairs at a later
stage. This service is rendered in partnership with the
Department of Health.
The number of registration sites where births were registered
during the review period was 803, consisting of 412 Home
Affairs front offices and across 391 health facilities, which
we intend to increase over the coming years. The positive
impact of the health facilities is demonstrated by the 42,3%
of births registered in 2021-22 which were done at health
facilities, which is an increase from 33,4% in 2020-21
financial year. We anticipate that the amount of birth
registration in health facilities will increase in the current
financial year.
Our clients need customised and personalised services due to
the unique nature of their needs, hence our technology must
respond to the unique needs. We have clients with names that
have special characters, fingerprints that are damaged by
years of physical labour, amputees due to medical or accidents
and many other challenges. It is our duty to ensure that our
systems respond to such individuals irrespective of their
challenges; hence we continue to enhance our technology to
have multimodal biometrics like facial recognition.

 
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The 2022-23 budget will see us exploring new ways to better
service citizens. We will procure kiosks that will allow
clients to self-service for passports and smart ID
applications and reprint birth, marriage and death
certificates making it easier to access our services. The
kiosk will be designed in the manner that will require
authentication through biometrics and will be located in
strategic areas to allow access even after office hours or
weekends. The self-service kiosk will usher a new era in the
manner in which we service our clients.
The recently piloted Branch appointment booking system has
proven to be the solution in as far as dealing with the
management of queues. The Branch appointment booking system
can be accessed by clients through the Home Affairs website
and is web based. It provides citizens with the ability to
book the dates and time slot of their choice and is linked to
the national population register for additional security. The
rollout of the system will follow a phased approach and 43
large offices will have the system by 30 June 2022 and 120
medium offices will have the system by 31 October 2022 and 34
small offices by November 2022 and the remaining offices will
continue as walk-in-services.

 
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Chairperson, we have the responsibility to ensure that the
budget is managed in a responsible manner that is free of
corruption, a budget must do what it is meant for that derives
value for money. We are pleased that the department achieved
an unqualified audit result in respect of the 2020-21
financial year. This was the fifth consecutive successive
unqualified audit opinion for the department. Matters
preventing the department from achieving a clean audit outcome
are the impairment of receivables and accrued departmental
revenue.
We do acknowledge that there is still more to be done in
improving the department audit outcomes, but our ability to
maintain an unqualified audit opinion means we are taking
correct steps in the right direction. Through our collective
commitment and resilience, I believe that the vision of a
modern, secure Department of Home Affairs that strategically
delivers its full constitutional mandate is within reach.
I would like to further thank the Chairperson and members of
the select committee for the work they continue to do with us
and for the guidance on key strategic issue. Through your
valuable guidance, together we can build a future-fit Home
Affairs Department. I thank You, Chair.

 
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Ms B M BARTLETT: Hon Deputy Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy
Ministers, Members of Parliament and fellow South Africa,
dignity has come to display three elements in constitutional
adjudication post Second World War. The ontological element
which entails that human beings have equal inherent human
dignity that cannot be waived or diminished. The second
element being the claim that inherent human dignity has to be
recognised and respected; and the limited-state claim as the
third element which entails that states have a positive
obligation to progressively realise human dignity through the
mechanism of socioeconomic rights.
Section 10 of the Constitution entails that:
Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their
dignity respected and protected.
Human dignity is a central value of the objective, normative
value system established by the Constitution. A person’s
identity is inextricably linked to the right to human dignity.
The core mandate of the department ensures the realisation of
this right, which is to secure and confirm our identity and
citizenship. Securing the identity and status of every citizen
is part of our journey towards socioeconomic transformation

 
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and the restoration of the dignity of citizens in line with
the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The Department of Home Affairs touches the lives of citizens
from the cradle to the grave, starting with the registration
of infants within 30 days of birth. After Birth Certificates,
the department issues Identity Documents which enable citizens
to do various transactions, like opening an account, applying
for a business licence or registering for a course. Secured
documents, like passports, also ensure our people are treated
with respect even when they travel outside the country.
When people enter into marriages or civil unions, the
department is involved. Finally, when people die, their deaths
are registered. The civic arm of Home Affairs is the biggest
and the most active. For any individual to live a stable,
productive, trouble-free and beneficial life within the
confines of the laws of the country, such an individual needs
the services of Home Affairs at least three times within their
lifetime.
Hon Chairperson, one of the priorities of the ANC-led
government is to build a capable and developmental state. A
capable state is necessary for effective service delivery and

 
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guides economic development. A developmental state must be
capable of leading, guiding and mobilising all social partners
towards achieving national objectives and goals.
The Citizen Affairs branch is responsible for providing
secure, efficient and accessible services and documents to
citizens and lawful residents. It ensures that entry to the
population register happens within 30 days of a child’s birth.
It maintains the number of smart identity cards, and it has a
target of 3 million per year. It also targets to issue 90% of
machine-readable adult passports through the new live capture
process within 13 working days.
One of the long standing priorities has been to clean up the
National Population Register, the NPR, which continues, for
historical reasons, to contain significant inaccuracies. One
of the key approaches to clean up the NPR has been to persuade
all parents to register their children within 30 days of
birth. To optimise birth registration, the department
continues to improve connectivity at health centres through
its increased footprint plan. The committee has recommended
that the department connect more hospitals to ensure that more
births are registered at the hospitals. This will assist with
cutting long queues at the Department of Home Affairs offices.

 
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During his state of the nation address, our hon President
Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 10 000 unemployed youth will be
hired to take on the enormous task of inputting the records
onto the department’s digital system. This is part of the
Presidential Employment Stimulus. With 10 000 people working
on this, the department believes that it will have digitized
records within two to three years. It has been reported that
there are more than 300 million paper records dating back to
the 1800s. This is an indication that the Department of Home
Affairs is ripe for digitisation. This recruitment drive will
enhance the skills of those who are recruited and contribute
to the modernisation of citizen services. Addressing
unemployment is critical in rebuilding the economy.
More than R222 billion has been requested from Treasury for
this project, to cover equipment and salaries. The Minister
has indicated that this is not an internship programme, but
rather a recruitment drive opened to all unemployed young
people with IT qualifications. We look forward to seeing this.
The triple challenge of inequality, poverty and unemployment
must be addressed with urgency.
The Government Printing Works, GPW is a success story for the
country. This is a highly efficient self-funded organisation

 
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that produces, amongst others, secure passports and smart ID
cards. The GPW has positioned itself as a high-security
printer of official documents and contributes to security and
credibility of government. The GPW has expanded and is
expanding its footprint in the SADC region. For instance, the
Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration visited GPW
on 14 and 15 of March 2022. The targeted products were Birth
Certificates, Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates. A
new product, Refugee Permit has been included in the
portfolio. About 60 000 copies of Namibian Birth Certificates
have been produced and were delivered to Namibia in April
2022.
The GPW works with Eswatini University, the Examinations
Council of Eswatini, Somalia, Kenya Government Press, DRC,
Ethiopia and Lesotho. This must be applauded.
Chairperson, the natural disaster which befell the people of
KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape could not have come at a worse
time. The ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic and impact of the
July unrest still affect many people. Deputy Minister Nzuza
and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zikalala handed over enabling
documents to people who were affected by the floods in the
province. The rationale was to ensure that those affected by

 
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the floods are able to access basic services such as banking
and social services. This was to ensure that the communities
reclaim their lives and return to normality. The Department of
Home Affairs also deployed mobile units in order to receive
applications for enabling documents, such as IDs and Birth
Certificates, which were lost as a result of the disaster.
The reissuing of Birth and Death Certificates came at no cost
to the affected communities. This must be applauded. Regarding
the challenge of long queues, it has been reported that Sita
has informed the department that they are spending
R400 million revamping its entire network, having just
completed a procurement process in that regard. This revamp
will be concluded in the third quarter of this financial year.
It has also been reported that Sita has doubled its internet
capacity and introduced three failovers located in three
cities, namely: Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, City of
Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality and eThekwini Metropolitan
Municipality. This will ensure that if any of the network is
down, there will be two to support our services. Minister has
also indicated that the department would be bringing in eight
IT Engineers from the Bank sector. We will be monitoring this
and other developments. Creating a better life for all is a

 
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priority of the ANC. Hon Chairperson, the ANC supports the
budget vote.
Mr I M SILEKU: Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon members, and hon
Minister and Deputy Minister, ...
Afrikaans:
... as ek aan mnr Malusi Gigaba, voormalige Minister van
Binnelandse Sake dink, kom die gesigte van die Gupta broers by
my op.
English:
There was a special link between the Minister and the Guptas,
but for a long time, the Minister could not remember whom of
the brothers received South African citizenship when he was
the Minister of Home Affairs.
However, I am extremely glad for the former Minister that at
least two of the Gupta brothers are apparently returning home.
I hope that they will find each other in orange and get
consensus about the citizenship issue.
Home Affairs has a new Minister, hon Aaron Motsoaledi, and in
less than two years, this Minister will find out that the

 
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people had, amongst others, enough of him and his
dysfunctional Department of Home Affairs.
Home Affairs is an important department that affects the lives
of all South Africans. In the Sona 2022, the state President,
Mr Phala Phala, promised that 10 000 new positions will be
recruited from youth graduates. I hope these youngsters, if
the plan succeeds, of course, will apply the principle of the
people first.
It is unfortunate that the poorest of the poor have to
experience the lack of respect from a department, which is
vital to them. Every year, we debate the inabilities of this
department and every year, matters get worse. We hear about
lazy officials that cannot or do not want to do the work and
one would think they are being forced to work there.
We hear of people who stand in long queues for hours and when
they get into the facilities, they hear that they must come
back, as the system is off.
Afrikaans:
Dit, Voorsitter, is ’n infame skande!

 
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English:
Often, the service is so humiliating that the Human Rights
Commission has to intervene. However, not even this has an
effect and the victims still have to go from pillar to post.
We hear of almost systemic corruption, and just recently, I
read about directors that were suspended.
The problem is that corrupt officials simply follow the
actions of more corrupt politicians. We hear of people that
pay to jump the queue. We hear of people sitting in those
queues without anything to eat or to drink. We hear of elderly
people who cannot get Sassa money because they do not have
IDs.
Afrikaans:
’n Artikel wat Oupa Nkosi onlangs in die City Press geskryf
het, illustreer die redes vir gemeenskappe se woede oor die
Binnelandse Sake se power diens en ongevoeligheid.
English:
Nkosi writes that only 184 of the 411 frontline staff have
access to the system that issues Smart IDs and passports. This
article illustrates why Home Affairs is a failed organ of
state. Typically, Home Affairs does not admit their failures

 
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and instead they blame misinformation, a lack of floor
management and inadequate infrastructure for the chaos at
their regional offices.
In the offices more than 200 000 smart ID cards and 70 000
green barcoded ID books are ready for collection.
Afrikaans:
Laat ek vir u ’n werklike scenario skets van wat met ons mense
by Binnelandse Sake se kantore gebeur.
English:
On a morning in Roodepoort, Gauteng, people wrapped in
blankets are prepared for a long day of waiting. When the sun
starts to rise, more people arrive and find their places in
the respective queues for birth certificates, temporary IDs,
IDs and passport.
Some, who needs to attend to physical needs, pay car guards to
keep their places in the queue. Inside the building, the
security guards are waiting cozily for 8:00, before they start
to book appointments. After three hours in the line, a person
has to return home because he could not show confirmation for
an appointment.

 
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Afrikaans:
Wat het geword van die beginsels van Batho Pele en die mense
eerste?
English:
I read about a woman who went to Home Affairs in 2020 to
upgrade her child’s birth certificate. She needed an
unabridged version, as she wanted the father to have the legal
power to step in, if something happened to her. No one wanted
to assist her.
The funding budgeted for Home Affairs is insufficient, but so
is their effectiveness and abilities to render services. I use
this opportunity to plead to the Minister to increase the
mobile offices and to take Home Affairs to the people. At
least that way, the people will not have to travel far for
IDs. I thank you.
Mr N M HADEBE: Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister, hon
Deputy Minister, it is undeniable that the Department of Home
Affairs has been dysfunctional for years and has been
functioning in a perpetual crisis mode. The tragic reality is
that the people of South Africa, hardworking people, bear the
brunt of this broken system.

 
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This broken system sees our people rising at the crack of dawn
to queue at a Home Affairs office, desperately waiting for
some, if any assistance. This broken system is aggravated by
corrupt officials, a shortage of critical staff and
dilapidated offices.
In its annual performance plan, the department emphasises that
the department is, and I quote, “central to harnessing the
Fourth Industrial Revolution and building a capable state”.
However, all we see and all the people of South Africa see,
are endless queues, unanswered calls, dilapidated offices and
a system that always seems to be offline.
On a daily basis, Members Parliament are being inundated with
calls from citizens in desperate need of help with their
passports, IDs, birth certificates and permits. We have become
the administration officers of this department and we continue
to see this department further falling apart.
The IFP, however, believes that the biggest crisis the
department faces, is an immigration crisis. The current manual
asylum-seeker system has been abused and riddled with
corruption and fraud. It seems that corruption is endemic and
the Border Management Authority, being hailed as the so-called

 
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solution, will not only cost us millions to implement, but it
will also take years to become fully operational.
This immigration crisis, and our government’s deep failure to
manage our borders in a co-operative manner, have seen
citizens being pitted against noncitizens, the rise of
xenophobia and has destabilised communities. This is all
directly due to a dysfunctional department and failing
government.
It is time for our government to table to the nation a plan of
action to fix our immigration system to ease the legitimate
concerns South Africans are raising. The IFP believes that
such a plan must include a commitment for additional
immigration inspectors and resources for deportations from
Treasury.
Urgent action is needed to restore the credibility of the
department. The public has a right to be treated with dignity
and to be served with efficiency and competence at the offices
of Home Affairs. Above all, the public desperately needs to
have faith that corruption and fraud within Home Affairs will
be fought on all levels. This we need to physically see to

 
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restore any faith in the department’s ability to fulfil its
legislative mandate. The IFP accepts the Budget Vote.
Mr D R RYDER: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. Home
Affairs; the department where service delivery is incredibly
erratic. There are stories of people applying for their
passports and ID Documents, and receiving them within a week.
No bribery. No corruption. Just an apparent alignment of the
planets for them. Amazing work. Well done. It just proves what
is possible.
Sadly, by far, the majority of stories are not so positive. It
all starts in the queue. We see those queues forming from
around 5 or 6am in the morning or even before, snaking around
buildings, and managed by the security guards who know nothing
of Home Affairs intricacies, and less about customer
relations, and yet are tasked with sorting out the queues,
advising people on process and where to stand and generally
running the show at the door. And what a show it is.
I asked a question on this Minister, and your dismissive reply
came back to me on 10 February 2022. It showed no
understanding of what actually goes on in your branches. Take
a leaf from the DA Leaders book. He was on the ground doing

 
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oversight at your branches in April. What he found there was
already known, the chilling nonetheless.
I urge you, Minister, to pick up yesterday’s Sowetan Newspaper
which covers the story of a man who tried to get service from
Home Affairs in his home town in East London and received no
assistance. He travelled with his wife to Pretoria where they
hoped to get better service. Instead the man, who is a priest,
was met with aggression from the security guard manning the
door. He explained that he had applied and paid the
appropriate fees, and yet he had not received the document
that he needed. He was not helped and when he attempted to get
to see a staff member he was assaulted. There is a picture of
him on the ground being dragged by his feet through a Home
Affairs branch. Is this the dignity with which our own
citizens are treated, Minister Motsoaledi? The people who
elected you? Is no wonder that the many foreigners who have to
visit Home Affairs just give up and take their chances as so-
called illegal immigrants. Your staff see them as nothing more
than an ATM, and they are treated despicably.
If you want to look at the root cause of xenophobia just
listen to the Minister of Home Affairs circumcision when

 
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naming the nationality of the people being arrested as if the
nationality itself is a determinant of their criminality.
There has been an outcry about the Irish Airline who asked
people to prove themselves to be valid South Africans by
talking Afrikaans. We should not be castigating the airline,
however misguided you may think they are. We should be asking
ourselves why was this even necessary. The answer is plain.
Home Affairs has been internationally recognised as a joke,
and the validity of South African Passports questionable due
to the rampant corruption in this department.
The Minister spoke this afternoon about connectivity and
information technology and yet he neglected to comment on the
protractive down time of the Government Printing Works which
its website has a massive impact on the communication of laws,
regulations and other gazetted items potentially making news
open to dispute. Where are all the skills, Minister? Your
department’s Wage Bill indicates judiciary has a top IT expert
in the country working free.
I just want to make the point, Deputy Minister, that having a
mobile office is only we have bragging about if people who are
supposed to serve them know where and when those mobile units

 
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will be. Irregularity of visits combined with the continuous
availability of drivers has turned this service into a game of
chance with us start again and that your government has put it
in the street.
Programme 2 of this budget is called citizen’s affairs to draw
houses attention to the fact that the budget shrinks by an
average of 5,5% per year over the next three years. The
message to South Africans is clear. The ANC government is not
servicing your needs now and they are providing less money
going forward so that the service levels even get worse. Hon
Bartlett know that a capable state is quite clear than we
currently don’t have one.
So, whatever way you look at it, any funding given to this
department should be condemned, until there is a strong
political will to step in and fix the mess that the ANC has
created. As the DA, prepares to take government in South
Africa, we have been developing a set of former policies. So,
once again I draw the attention of voters to the DA has
recently released Migration Policy. It’s a clear path to
fixing this mess. We’ll start doing this come 2024. Thank you,
Deputy Chair.

 
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The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you very much, hon
Nkosi, you may continue with the debate. I hope you’re right.
I haven’t seen ... [Interjections.]
Mr T S C DODOVU: Hon Deputy Chairperson, this is hon Dodovu.
I’m going to take the position of hon Nkosi.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: it’s very clear, it’s not
hon Nkosi. Okay, hon Dodovu, you may continue.
Mr T S C DODOVU: Hon Deputy Chairperson, I am in the rural
parts of the Eastern Cape. Therefore, I am not going to use my
camera, so that I am able to address this house in a properly
way. Deputy Chairperson, members of the NCOP, the Minister and
Deputy Minister here this afternoon, I rise on behalf of the
ANC in the first instance to support the budget. This is a
budget that seeks to ensure that at the end of the day, the
department really becomes a custodian, a protector and a
verifier of identity and the status of the South African
citizens.
This is quite important to say this because of a mammoth task
that the department must accomplish. But today, this
afternoon, I fully understand why this castigation against the

 
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department, I fully understand why everything that is led by
hon Motsoaledi is being challenged, criticised and being
castigated, it is because hon Ryder from the DA has confirmed
this afternoon that, the DA seeks the votes, they seek to
become a government and therefore, anything and everything
that the department is doing, is going to be challenged,
because in that way, for me, he seeks votes like a predator
at5 a smell of blood.
They want to attract the voters because they use this trumpet
of attacking everything that the department is doing, despite
acknowledging the fact that there are serious challenges that
the department is confronting, and that the department is
doing quite well to ameliorate the situation that we find
ourselves in. Now, at this time, hon Deputy Chairperson, under
the leadership and guidance of hon Motsoaledi, I think that
the department is resolute, I think that the department is
positioned, I think that the department is ready to address
all the challenges and the problems that are affecting us, be
it the long queues that are experienced in our Offices of Home
Affairs, be it the issue of illegal immigrants that we have in
our country, be it corruption.

 
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For the very fact that, there are senior officials who are
being arrested in the department, it is precisely because of
the work that the Minister is doing to ensure that we uproot
corruption and all of its manifestation, and this is very,
very good. Therefore, we are saying that, the Minister must
stand up and address the important issue of overcrowding and
long queues in the offices. This is an important matter, and
this budget seeks to attend to that. I also want to sincerely
implore on this department to ensure that, we truly, in a very
genuine way, address this issue of long queues in our offices.
At the same time, the Minister has carried a bull by its
horns, by ensuring that he speaks openly, in a very articulate
way about the problems of illegal immigrants. Some of these
illegal immigrants, hon Deputy Chair, we must say it, they
commit crime in our country, some of them open businesses
illegally, some of them perpetuate the issue of drugs that we
see in our society. Not all of them, not all of them I must
say, hon Deputy Chairperson, like some members has inclined us
to believe. Some of them are doing these things, and the hon
Minister is at the forefront of the campaigns and at the
forefront of ensuring that everybody who lives in South Africa
is recorded, registered and known. For me, this is quite
important.

 
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It is a process that is going to take some time as a country
to deal with, but having a Minister like hon Motsoaledi, we
are quite confident that he is going to make an indelible
contribution that is going to make an impact in terms of
addressing this particular issue. Also, I am surprised to hear
hon Sileku speaking in the way that he’s speaking. I think
that he has developed a functional blindness on his own
defects, for him to stand up and criticise without bringing
solutions to the problems that he and me and the Minister are
seeing as south Africans.
I think that he’s going down. Our view is that, we need to
continue to attend to this particular issue, hon Deputy
Chairperson. Hon Deputy Chair, the ANC in its January 8
Statement, has set out clear priorities for all ANC members
and South Africans in terms of what needs to be done this
year. Among those priorities, is to defend our democratic
gains against attempts to undermine our Constitution, as well
as the order that we find ourselves in, to build a capable
state, as hon Bartlett has already said it, to ensure that we
are ethical, and that drives the implementation of
transformative agenda.

 
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That is the way that is going to inspire confidence, and when
you compare the situation that is obtained today, hon Deputy
Chair, and the situation that has been obtained in the past,
you can see that there are lot of changes that have been
effected over a period of time in the Department of Home
Affairs. I hear hon Hadebe from the IFP repeatedly saying
that, there are problems, and I wonder at a time that his
leader, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, was the Minister of Home
Affairs, were these problems not obtained, because most of
these problems started at that particular time.
But because we are not here for a blame game, hon Hadebe, we
are her to give solutions to the many challenges that are
facing us. We will not be deterred, we will not be defocused,
we shall be resolute in our conviction to ensure that we
attend to these particular issues. Now, this afternoon, I
implore the Minister, and as the ANC, that we need to go out
and resolve all the problems that are facing the department
itself. The issues of administration, the issues of filling
key positions in the administration are very much fundamental.
The department must also go and attend to all the financial
situations that are obtained, develop a very clear cut
corruption plan within the department, because it is that

 
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problem that demean and defocuses the department, whenever it
is corruption relating to the ID documents, whether it is
corruption in relation to allowing illegal immigrants in our
country, whether it is corruption in relation to bribery or
any other form of corruption, it must be attended to.
Our respective view as the ANC, is that the Minister, with the
little budget that he has, he must focus the attention of the
department in the realisation of that particular goal. We are
also happy, as the ANC, hon Deputy Chairperson that, we have
ultimately finalised the legislation on border management.
This border management will help to ensure that the work of
government is done in a co-ordinated way, it is done in an
interdepartmental way and it is done in an intergovernmental
way because, that is what is important, that all stakeholders
in unison and in one direction, must focus in ensuring that we
protect our borders.
All our stakeholders ... [Inaudible.] ... and irrespective, to
ensure the curb of illegal immigrants which is a problem in
this country. We are quite happy that all the systems are
being put in place, and that all structures are being put in
place, and that all processes are being put in place, and at
the end of the day, we are going to see the rollout and the

 
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implementation of the Border Management Authority, BMA, which
is quite important, and in our respective view, given how we
have adopted and passed this law, that is going to solve many
of the problems that are facing us.
But in addition to that, I will sincerely encourage the
Minister to ensure that, while that authority is being put in
place, it must be staffed by competent, experienced, qualified
people to ensure that they do their work in a very patriotic
spirit, they do their work in a way that inspires confidence,
but most importantly, they do it because we must preserve and
reserve our South Africanisms in a way that will ensure that
at the end of the day, we achieve the objectives that have
been set before us.
With that, hon Deputy Chairperson, as I’ve indicated from the
beginning, as the ANC, we fully support this budget ...
[Inaudible.] ... and we think that the new models that are
characterised by the bit budget that we have and we believe as
the ANC that, with this budget, and the annual performance
plan of the department, the Minister, as part of leading the
department, will make an indelible contribution in terms of
attaining those particular issues. Under the circumstances,

 
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hon Deputy Chair, as the ANC, as I have indicated, we support
this Budget Vote. Thank you very much.
The MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: Hon Deputy Chairperson, thank
you very much. Hon Visser from the DA, most of the problems
you mentioned in your debate, I have already given solutions
in the Budget Speech. I will really humbly request you to go
and read the Budget Speech again. You will find the solutions
there.
However, together with other members of the DA, you kept on
mentioning the phrase, “collapsed department.” I want to give
you statistics because figures do not lie.
From the 1st of January to the 31st of March, in a three-month
period, 269 732 babies were born in South Africa. The 204 108
of them got their birth certificates within 30 days. The
remainder got their birth certificates even though it was
after 30 days. That was the first three months of the year.
A total of 902 014 people received their smart cards, IDs. We
issued 26 864 passports for young people and 136 803 passports
for adults. All this work was done in the first three months
by a department that is supposed to have collapsed.

 
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Now, there is a story of KwaZulu-Natal floods which keeps on
being repeated from the EFF desks. I am saying so because
there was a claim during my Budget Speech which is two weeks
ago in the National Assembly, that the flood victims are
unable to obtain social services because the Department of
Home Affairs did not play its role.
I am challenging you to go to Hansard, to find answers there
in figures, but because this is being repeated, I would like
to repeat it again. This is for the third time. The Deputy
Minister gave the figures today again because he was running
the programme. I am also giving it for the third time so that
there are three sources.
The Department of Home Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal visited 38
sides in eThekwini, physically going there to the people not
waiting for them to come to home affairs. Three sides in Ugu,
four sides in iLembe. In total 2 394 people who lost their
documents were helped. Sadly, 334 death certificates were
issued without which people would not been buried. These were
free services, all-in-all. So, please, to keep on repeating
the same story again and again and hoping that one day it will
be the truth that does not cut it.

 
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Home affairs went there with our mobile trucks. Actually, the
premier of KwaZulu-Natal was shown with the Deputy Minister,
going around and giving people the IDs and documents they
applied for.
Hon Sileku, you mentioned the issue of mobile trucks and I
have said it in my speech that we are increasing them. We have
already bought 10 and we are going to buy 15 more this
financial year. We have taken a decision that we would like to
double a number of trucks that we have, because one of the
things we do not want to see, is school kids going to queue at
home affairs in uniforms. So, this is a school programme, but
also help communities in outlying areas. However, also helping
communities in distress and emergencies like we did in
KwaZulu-Natal.
The last issue hon Ryder, the story you see in newspapers
about the assault, I am sure by now as an hon Member of
Parliament, you do know that every story has two sides. Yes,
we saw somebody being dragged is definitely criminal and the
Police and officials are going to deal with that. However, I
want to tell you to wait, because there is another side to
this story, of what happened. I am not justifying a man being
dragged to the ground.

 
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However, there is an another horrible story which is an
alternative story that has not been recorded on video, but
being told from our investigation. Please wait for the
investigation then see the two sides of the story. There are
two cases opened by opposing groups in what has been shown in
the newspaper, but you are mentioning only one story. Wait for
the other story and hear what the Police are saying about it.
Thank you very much.
Debate concluded.
APPROPRIATION BILL
(Policy debate)
Vote No 20 — Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities:
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:
Hon Deputy Chairperson Madam Sylvia Lucas, hon Mmoiemang of
the NCOP and chairperson of the Select Committee on Health hon
Gillion, it is our honour to present to you and this august
House the Budget Vote for the Department of Women, Youth and
Persons with Disabilities.

 
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The Budget Vote demonstrates the commitment by our department
to empower and advance the interests of the most vulnerable
groups in our society. This must be achieved through
socioeconomic acceleration to overcome the persistent scourge
of gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF, the economic
exclusion and marginalisation of women, youth and persons with
disabilities, as well as the lack of representation of
vulnerable groups in decision-making processes.
In accordance with our mandate, the department continues to
advocate, monitor, evaluate and regulate for the rights and
empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities, as
enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The recent fourth quarter statistics released by the Minister
of Police hon Bheki Cele, reveal a horrific picture on the
state of our nation. In this regard, the mounting
socioeconomic pressures that millions of South African
households are subjected to become the breeding ground for
social instability, criminality and violence. The unfortunate
reality is that women, youth and persons with disabilities
bear the brunt of the crisis of crime in our country. We must
therefore intensify our interventions aimed at addressing this
second pandemic in our country.

 
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The National Strategic Plan, NSP, on GBVF is currently in its
second year of implementation. I am pleased to inform this
august House that the interministerial committee, which I
chair, continues to do its work of co-ordinating the
implementation of the NSP. This is supported by the
department’s role in providing strategic leadership to
advocate, co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation
of the NSP. To date, several strides have been made, including
the following:
Firstly, the National Council On Gender-Based Violence and
Femicide draft Bill is currently being consulted with the
National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, and
will be tabled in Parliament later this month;
Secondly, the multisectoral GBVF rapid response teams are in
the process of being established in all provinces, districts
and local levels because our women die in their localities ...
some in their own houses;
Thirdly, we are working closely with municipalities and sector
departments to ensure integration of the priorities of the NSP
on GBVF into the District Development Model, DDM;

 
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Fourthly, technical monitors and data capturers have been
placed in three pilot provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, the
Eastern Cape and Gauteng, to enhance the capacity of provinces
to implement the NSP and the gender budgeting framework,
thanks to the EU’s funding. We will roll out this support in
the remaining six provinces during the 2022-23 financial year;
Fifthly, through funding from the German Agency for
International Co-operation, the department is developing the
national prevention strategy on GBVF;
Sixth, we have ensured that national departments integrate the
GBVF priorities into their strategic and annual performance
plans;
Seventh, the department co-ordinates and consolidates the
submission of monthly progress reports on the implementation
of the NSP to the President; and
Eighth, we have, in partnership with the SA National Taxi
Council, Santaco, initiated the training of taxi drivers and
owners on GBVF.

 
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The success and impact of the NSP on GBVF must be rooted in
collaboration across all sectors of our society. Most
importantly, it must be localised to respond to the unique
needs of our provinces and localities. Therefore, the NCOP
plays a critical role in ensuring that the NSP on GBVF finds
expression and is incorporated as a priority across our
provincial governments.
On 4 May 2022, we launched the South African gender assessment
report in partnership with the World Bank. The report
highlights the overall progress South Africa has made towards
gender equality since 1994, including the following areas:
Firstly, South Africa is among the top 10 countries globally
to have successfully implemented reforms to improve women’s
legal rights; and
Secondly, in the Southern African Development Community, SADC,
we are number two ... the second country in the SADC,
according to the World Economic fund gender gap index of 2021;
Notwithstanding these strides, we can no longer ignore the
economic marginalisation of women, youth and persons with
disabilities. I therefore call on our provincial leadership to

 
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ensure that economic interventions proposed at national level,
including the economic recovery and reconstruction plan, must
be intentional about the integration of vulnerable groups at a
provincial and local level.
To ensure that our provinces are able to reach their economic
potential, it is important that economic interventions are
inclusive in nature. Failure to do so, threatens the
livelihoods of the vast majority and further reinforces
unequal socioeconomic development across our provinces.
In this regard, we must always remember that this is going to
require each and every one of us because those vulnerable
people feel the pain at the most vulnerable level. In this
regard, we must continue to promote interprovincial trade to
accelerate economic transformation, support labour-intensive
growth and create competitive economies at a provincial and
local level. All these good measures contained in the NSP are
commendable. We call on our people to refuse to treat GBV as a
private matter. Take someone with you. It is ... If you do not
respond to ...
Sepedi:
... mokgosi wa sebatakgomo ...

 
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English:
... everyone must get involved. Leave no-one behind. For its
part, the government is tightening its efforts to eradicate
this pandemic.
With regard to youth development, we had the honour on 2 June
to launch Youth Month with the National Youth Development
Agency, NYDA, under the theme, Promoting sustainable
livelihoods and resilience of young people for a better
tomorrow, at Morris Isaacson High School next to the Hector
Pieterson monument. We also visited the monument with the
NYDA.
During the month of June, we will have various activities to
address the pressing challenges of our youth and what they
face, particularly unemployment. Unemployed, educated but
feeling the need to be creating jobs for themselves or being
assisted. I’m having a meeting tomorrow with the hon Minister
of Higher Education to continue skilling our youth to ... that
by the time we arrive in the Eastern Cape on the 16th, we ...
have that which we could also be saying ... these are our
plans. The official June 16 commemoration will be addressed by
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa.

 
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Beyond Youth Month, I am excited to inform the House that the
NYDA Amendment Bill was tabled in Parliament on 26 April 2022.
Furthermore, the Integrated Youth Development Strategy, as
well as the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the
National Youth Policy 2030 will soon be submitted to Cabinet
for approval. This will enable us to monitor the
implementation of the national youth ... across all sectors.
In addition, the NYDA continues to support the Presidential
Youth Employment Intervention, PYEI, by providing the
following: the SA Youth mobi, the Youth Explorer and the youth
mPowa. In the 2022-23 financial year, the NYDA will target the
following programmes:
Firstly, the training of more than 25 000 young people to be
youth entrepreneurs ... to be self-employed;
Secondly, 2 000 youth-owned enterprises will receive financial
assistance from the NYDA through the NYDA grant programme;
Thirdly, 5 000 young people will be provided with skills
development programmes to enable them to enter the economy;
Fourthly, 10 000 young people will be placed in jobs through
the National Pathway Management Network; and

 
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Fifthly, 50 000 young people will be recruited in the
structured National Youth Service.
We must harness the potential of our provinces in addressing
inequalities by accelerating economic development. It is for
this reason that it is in our hands ... that we can work
together through the DDM of the Department of Co-operative
Governance and Traditional Affairs to make sure that we leave
no-one behind.
In March 2022, the department procured an exhibition space at
the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town. We utilise every
opportunity that we find.
The department held three dialogues on renewable energy, but
also everywhere else, including the imbizo on the eastern
seaboard. We have participated both in KwaZulu-Natal and the
Eastern Cape, and we will be there in Alfred Nzo.
In October 2021, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa
launched the Women Economic Assembly, Wecona, that seeks to
unlock a minimum of 40% of all procurement opportunities for
women-owned businesses across sectoral value chains. In this

 
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regard, Wecona has developed a strategy to roll out to other
provinces. The second Wecona will be convened in October 2022.
We must ensure that the full implementation of the threshold
for public procurement set at 40% for women, 30% for youth and
7% for persons with disabilities across provincial
governments, happens. It is our responsibility. As the
department, we will continue to work with the NCOP to ensure
the effective monitoring of women, youth and persons with
disabilities where public procurement takes place.
As the department, we will continue adhering to all
international commitments, be it at the international level of
the UN, the AU, the SADC, to make sure that even the African
Continental Free Trade Area ... that we developed also
benefits these vulnerable people that we are working with.
To strengthen disability inclusion in line with the UN
convention and AU protocol we have signed, the department has
developed and gazetted two frameworks on universal access and
design and reasonable accommodation.
We welcome Cabinet’s approval of the National Strategic
Framework on Disability Rights Awareness ... Campaigns ...

 
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awareness. One of the barriers to participation in the economy
for persons with disabilities is access to education. Last
year, the department in partnership with the department of
education held a summit on this framework.
The disaggregated data collected by the Department of Public
Service and Administration, DPSA, on the employment of persons
with disabilities in the Public Service, show that the Public
Service is at 1% while our goal remains 7%.
Also, the research report published by the department on the
impact of COVID-19 on persons with disabilities highlights
recommendations towards upholding the rights of people with
disabilities ... living conditions of persons that need our
attention. Parliament is also in the right process of
ratifying the AU’s protocol on the rights of persons with
disabilities. Later this year, the department will convene the
economic empowerment summit for persons with disabilities.
With regard to the implementation of the Gender Responsive
Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, Evaluation and Auditing
Framework, we are continuing with this across all three
spheres and we will continue ... Similarly, there are plans to
roll out this framework at the local government level in

 
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collaboration with the SA Local Government Association, Salga.
The Department of Co-operative Governance has co-operated with
us in making sure that the new councillors are also steeped
into this ... that which makes all South Africans feel needed
and part of the freedom we fought for.
We are happy to say to this House that there will be the roll-
out of phase one of the project over the coming months by the
National Treasury on how we partner with Treasury, the
Department of Monitoring and Evaluation and the International
Monetary Fund in making sure that all these vulnberable groups
find us on the platform.
In fulfilling the mandate of socioeconomic empowerment, we
will continue working together with all the spheres of
government. We continue to participate in the AU specialised
technical committee. We are also never found wanting on the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women, Cedaw, commitments and committees. We had the
pleasure of chairing the Cedaw committee meeting this year and
the members all sang praises with regard to the progress that
South Africa is making.

 
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I am happy to report that South Africa met all its
international obligations relating to women, youth and persons
with disabilities. In our commitment to strengthen diplomatic
relations across the continent, in July we will be hosting the
Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue and Ethical Leadership Programme
in partnership with the NYDA, the Nelson Mandela Foundation
and others. This will involve all our youth on the continent,
who will also participate in the upcoming UN Conference of
State Parties on ... disability and the Commonwealth meeting
of Ministers of gender in Kigali.
The appropriation of the department increases from the 2022
financial year to the 2023 financial year from R763,5 million
to R987,2 million. It includes an amount of R100,7 million and
R681,3 million earmarked for transfers to the Commission for
Gender Equality, CGE, and the NYDA.
This appropriation includes a baseline increase amounting to
R6,9 million for the CGE and R200 million for the NYDA. The
additional allocation for the NYDA is earmarked for the
implementation of the PYEI that we spoke about earlier.
Regrettably, only R5 million is allocated for the co-
ordination of the strategic plan on GBV.

 
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In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge and thank the hon Chair
and hon members of the NCOP for their contributions and
guidance, the development partners for their continued
support, senior officials of the department and all those,
particularly the Director-General Mikateko Maluleke and her
team.
We must remain grounded and loyal to the mandate of improving
the livelihoods of the most vulnerable in our society. No
contribution is small in the quest for an ethical and
developmental state. We all have the collective responsibility
to address the challenges that continue to be a breeding
ground for social instability, unemployment, criminality based
on violence and poverty.
Finally, as we continue to commemorate Youth Month, our youth
must be the catalyst in ensuring that we develop solutions to
the challenges of our nation. They are the present. They are
our future. In the words of Tata Nelson Mandela:
let me say this and say this with the utmost conviction:
the nation owes you a clear policy and practical measures
to ensure that the youth contributes to, and benefits
from, our new democracy.

 
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The Mandelas and ma Shopes of this world fought for freedom.
What shall we be remembered for ... to open pathways for our
young people to participate in finding solutions for the
present and the future?
Sepedi:
Ke a leboga.
IsiZulu:
Malibongwe!
Ms M N GILLION: Hon Chairperson, hon House Chairperson, hon
Minister, hon Chief Whip, hon members and all delegates
present, our former statesman, Nelson Mandela once said, “As
long as women are bound by poverty, and as long as they are
looked down upon, human rights will lack substance.”
Our aims and objectives as the ANC have always been to include
the support and advance of the cause for women’s emancipation.
We have put women at the centre of the struggle to alleviate
poverty and inequality. Over the years, the government has
worked tirelessly to eliminate the feminisation of poverty
through strengthening women empowerment mechanisms across the
government and society.

 
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As the ANC, we understand the significance of women’s
empowerment and the impact it has on our society and economy.
Women's empowerment equips and allows women to make life-
determining decisions through various challenges in society.
Empowering women provides women with their right to agency,
and to be more independent to determine their life choices.
Empowering women has the potential to improve the lives of
millions of people, not only women and girls, but also men and
boys who are impacted by the women in their lives being
empowered. When women are empowered, they are better able to
provide for themselves and their families, which has a direct
impact on the well-being of those in their lives.
Women empowerment does not only aim to improve the rights of
women but also other people that have been marginalised
because of their genders, such as members of the LGBTQIA+
community and persons living with disabilities. Women
empowerment also includes efforts to expand girls' and women's
access to education and health care, increase their economic
power and reduce their risks of physical and sexual violence.
It also includes efforts to reduce gender stereotypes and
discrimination which can limit girls’ and women's
opportunities and increase their risks of harm, and to promote
girls' and women's leadership and agency. We are also

 
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continuing to put forward women’s economic empowerment
because, as the government, we understand and acknowledge the
value of including women in various sectors of the economy
through mainstreaming. Much has been done to promote women’s
economic empowerment and the mainstreaming of women into the
economy. The promotion of women’s rights and women empowerment
is imperative if we are true to realise the nonsexist and
equal society that we envision. The government launched the
Charlotte Maxeke African Women's Economic Justice and Rights
initiative which aims to give practical effect to the
country's commitment to the economic and financial inclusion
of women.
Moreover, The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy also
launched the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Strategy,
which is aimed at ensuring that women become active
participants in the energy sector in September last year. In a
bid to tackle inequality in key sectors of the economy,
President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Women Economic
Assembly, WECONA, in October 2021, which put major sectors
under the spotlight to evaluate the level of participation of
women-owned businesses. The assembly was launched during a
hybrid event attended by businesswomen, government leaders and

 
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officials, private companies, civil society organisations and
other stakeholders.
The private sector, civil society, women’s organisations,
businesswomen and the government have partnered to form the
WECONA, an initiative to facilitate the participation of
women-owned businesses in core areas of the economy. We have
made drastic steps to include women in all sectors of the
economy, not forgetting the providing support for women in the
informal economy such as the rural and township economy. The
government also continues to support women-owned businesses
and entrepreneurship by resolving that 40% of public
procurement be reserved for women-owned businesses. We also
have progressive strides toward achieving gender equality.
Through South Africa’s progressive laws, we are seeing more
women serving in high-ranking positions than ever before. The
Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan indicated that
small, medium and micro-enterprises owned by women will play a
part in the delivery of infrastructure delivery. Women are
being encouraged and supported to form co-operatives in key
economic sectors such as retail, agriculture and agro-
processing, financial services and manufacturing and will be
prioritised in access to funding. Noting that we are a country

 
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engulfed by high levels of unemployment, the Presidential
Employment Stimulus has benefited 60% of women. We are glad to
hear that provinces have also emphasised the creation of jobs
and economic opportunities aimed at women and youth. This is
in response to the challenges of unemployment and poverty that
have been exacerbated by COVID-19 and the lockdown. As the
government, we will continue to work tirelessly to mitigate
these challenges. Although more still needs to be done in the
labour market, since statistics reveal that the labour market
is more favourable to men than to women. Continuous upskilling
of women, and women empowerment awareness programmes in the
private sector are significant to mitigate the gap, we hope
that provinces will continue to prioritise women in their
planning. However, we have also made strides in the private
sector in the protection of women in the workplace on the
development and the roll-out of sexual harassment policies.
Understanding that gender-based violence is cancer rooted in
patriarchy that all members of our society ought to come
together and uproot it in all of its manifestations. We have
to bring dignity to the vulnerable in our society such as
children, particularly girls and persons with disabilities. We
hope that the provinces will be able to reach out to more
schools while conducting their Sanitary Dignity Programme,

 
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this time the programme should also incorporate issues that
are affecting adolescence including boys, such as bullying,
substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, human trafficking and
programmes aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of
social media and rather focus on how adolescence can use
social media positively. The Sanitary Dignity Programme should
also target schools catering for children with disabilities
and also conduct outreach programmes for children in those
schools. When we speak of persons with disabilities, we have
to include all persons in the disability spectrum. Chapter 2
of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the Republic
recognises the rights and freedoms of all persons in the
Republic, this includes the right to human dignity and
equality. Persons living with disabilities are no different,
they deserve to enjoy the same rights as all citizens in the
Republic. They too are reserved the right to no
discrimination.
Noting that persons with disabilities often feel excluded from
society through mobility and accessibility, be it to services
or infrastructure and an environment that is enabling to their
needs. Persons with disabilities are considered to be one of
the vulnerable groups as often some are ostracized from their
families and communities. It is through this understanding

 
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that the ANC is and will consistently champion and promote the
rights of persons with disabilities to restore and bring
dignity to persons living with disabilities. The Africa Union
Charter Protocol Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities promotes and recognises the rights
of persons living with disabilities, including the rights to
equality, security, free from unfair discrimination, human
dignity, accessibility and social inclusion to name a few. It
is in line with our Constitution and our social transformation
agenda of building a better life for all and a South Africa
that belongs to all who live in it. That is why, as the ANC,
we will continue to promote the rights of persons with
disability through legislation such as the Disability Act
which is underway and continue to assist persons living with
disabilities through the provision of the disability grant to
assist them the necessary support or mobility required to make
their lives better.
Representation and inclusion of persons living with
disabilities are significant to social inclusion, the
government is leading this. Our transformation agenda is to
create a society where everyone feels safe and is able to walk
freely. A society that is free of violence and discrimination.
We have to fight for a society in which all are able to enjoy

 
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the freedoms that this country offers. The ANC supports Budget
Vote 20. Chairperson, I thank You.
Ms S MANI-LUSITHI (Eastern Cape): Thank you, hon Acting House
Chair. Greetings to yourself, the hon members and all
delegates and all on the various platforms. Hon Acting House
Chair, well firstly, I think we want to start the debate by
appreciating the agency of the discussion on this Budget Vote,
particularly as we are facing a post-global pandemic that has
heavily affected the lives of people living with disabilities,
women and our youth. As the Department of Social Development
as we lead with the mandate of providing services and
programmes to victims of crime and violence including the
abuse of persons with disabilities, we understand abuse as
really about power and control and people with disabilities
face unique challenges and barriers to accessing the support
and services and our disability rights ... [Inaudible.] ...
positioned to help this achieve this access.
Building on the foundations of the National Youth Development
policy 2021, as the Eastern Cape government we are determined
to force a relationships and this calls for the development
and inclusion of young people into the mainstream of economy
in order to improve their wealth and social wellbeing. During

 
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the new financial year, we will optimise the outcomes of the
current ... [Inaudible.] development programmes for young
people by partnering with other agencies to ensure that our
young people are provided with income opportunities post
training that are accredited. In addition, as the department
to increase the number of youth benefiting from the skills
chain programme inclusive of 40 young people in our child and
youth care centres who will receive driver licence training.
In addition, 17 youth initiatives which include poultry,
piggery, crop production and car wash projects will be funded
to benefit young people across the province.
As part of our practical intervention in implementing an ...
[Inaudible.] ... and social behavioural change programmes to
address risky behaviour and the harmful social norms that
negatively affect morals and values within families and
communities. This programme seeks to create a safe an enabling
environment in which people can have meaningful engagements
about social issues and ills including human immunodeficiency
virus, HIV, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Aids,
prevention, teenage pregnancy and parental behaviour. A total
number of 3 000 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 are
targeted through these programmes.

 
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Now, in our efforts to uplift these services during 2022-23
financial year, the department has accelerated efforts towards
victim empowerment, gender-based violence and substance abuse
reaching 219 422 people. The department in collaboration with
other stakeholders successfully implemented the drive
masterplan through substance abuse prevention programmes and
our social behavioural change programme which seeks to reduce
these risky behaviours in our young people.
Hon members, our provincial outlook on teenage pregnancy
records 17,1% of teenage girls between 10 to 19 years who fall
pregnant. In responding to this prevailing challenge the
department will collaborate in implementing sexual
reproductive health programme with the United Nations
Population Fund, UNFPA, the Department of Health, the
Department of Education and House of Traditional Leaders. The
programme will be implemented in a Nelson Mandela Metro, O R
Tambo and Alfred Nzo Districts, as these areas have the
highest incidents of youth teenage pregnancy and we are
targeting 30 000 young girls both in and out of school.
Hon Acting Chair, we are also aware of the urgent need of
strategically placing women at the centre of development.
Therefore, in relation to contributing towards economic

 
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empowerment of women we are prioritising interventions that
promote the rights of women to achieve gender equality through
the implementation of skills development advocacy and social
reproductive health and rights programme benefiting 7 874
women and 21 ... [Inaudible.] initiatives. The department is
again partnering with UNFPA which provides the technical
support to the development of provincial women development
policy and the implementation plan. Now, in advancing women
empowerment and economic development we have provided skills
development and supported 13 184 women.
Hon members, as we are advance the struggle for women
emancipation we must also face head on the pandemic of gender-
based violence. The issue of gender-based violence whether
physical, sexual, economical or emotional is recognised
globally as one of the most widespread and persistent
violations of the rights of women and girls. It is a universal
problem, it cut across geography, class and culture. It is
certainly not unique to South Africa. It is really my
considered view that the fight against poverty and ill justice
will only bear fruits if we invest in addressing the root
cause of gender inequality and gender-based violence in our
families, societies and nation, and that is the distraction of
the patriarchal economy.

 
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Hon members, it is also true to people living with
disabilities the reality is that it is people who are living
with disabilities who experience the highest rates of domestic
violence, sexual assault and abuse. Abuse against a person
living with a disability often take a non-traditional forms
and person ... [Inaudible.] disability facing additional
barrier where seeking help inhabits them from accessing
services. This means that we need to build them more
integrated and inclusive society. In marking the importance of
the mainstreaming of services for people living with
disabilities across all spheres of our society, the department
remains committed to play the leading role in this regard. The
department through its programme provides integrated services
that facilitates the promotion of the wellbeing and
socioeconomic empowerment of persons with disabilities.
This encompasses a range of intervention in servicing
including protective workshops capacity building support.
Critical in this programme is implementation of the community-
based rehabilitation services and advocacy utilising the
rights-based approach that contribute positively to enhancing
the mainstreaming of persons with disabilities within their
communities. This, of course, is not enough which is why we
are calling on our social partners and private sector to work

 
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with this in mobilising resources to promote the rights of
people who are differently able. It was also critical to note
that disability does not only affect the persons with the
disability, but also the family and the immediate community.
Hence we must also create programmes that seek to creating
enabling environment for the provisioning of appropriate
support programmes for the families, caregivers as they are or
should be the primary support system. In many instances often
the immediate families carry the financial, medical, physical
and emotional burdens of ... [Inaudible.]
There is, therefore, a great need for support programmes which
will enhance the quality of life for people who are
differently able and their families throughout their lifespan.
The Department of Social Development is committed to working
towards the mainstreaming and integration of programmes and
that creating a better life for persons with disabilities.
Therefore, we realised that legislation alone, however, will
not ensure that person with disabilities can enjoy their human
rights. We, therefore, applaud initiatives such as the
departmental disability month which serves to create awareness
with regards to employees living with disabilities.

 
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Hon Acting House Chair, we need to do more when ensuring that
the national government fully complies with the legal
framework policies, strategic framework mandates directive and
prescripts relating to disability management. This means that
we need to ensure that disability form for employees who are
differently able by establishing function so as to ensure
proper representation of people living with disabilities in
the work place. More needs to be done to raise awareness to
ensure that we change our mind-set with regards to persons who
are differently able. We should, therefore, continue to fight
the stigma attached to our differently gifted brothers and
sisters which still exist in our communities. As government we
should, therefore, continue in the fore-fighting leading and
advancing the rights of people living with disabilities. Hon
Acting House Chair, as the Eastern Cape we support the Budget
Vote. Thank you, Acting House Chair.
Ms H S BOSHOFF: Thank you very much, House Chair, all protocol
observed. This is one of so many government departments that
have dismally failed in all aspects to deliver on their
mandate to the broader South African community. It is rather
an embarrassment to mention that it even exists, it’s all talk
and no action. In today’s context, this is the department that

 
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should be the cornerstone of the fight in the current pandemic
facing women, youth and people with disabilities.
South Africa’s gender-based violence statistics are equal to a
country at war and that is no hyperbole. South Africa is
ranked as the world’s capital of crime against women, with
10 818 rapes taking place in the first three months of this
year, and more than 2 695 women murdered every year. In South
Africa, one woman is killed every three hours.
It is therefore critical to note that there are many layers of
gender-based violence, GBV, and socioeconomic issues such as
teenage pregnancy and economic inequalities which are linked
to GBV. Addressing such cases would entail tackling these
issues as well. Women, youth and people with disabilities are
faced with these issues on a daily basis and therefore
government needs a comprehensive approach that will address
them. Regardless of which angle look at this from, it is
imperative that all factors are addressed to fight the scourge
of GBV
This department needs to start being implementers on the
ground and not in boardrooms, department summits and izimbizo.
South Africans need to see more action and less talks.

 
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According to a Statistics SA report, nearly 50% of GBV
assaults are committed by someone close, 22% of assaults are
committed by a friend or an acquaintance, 15% by a spouse or
intimate partner, and 29% are committed by a complete
stranger. Government needs to create and maintain an
environment that is safe and conducive for victims to report
incidents of violence and abuse, and this environment must be
one of empathy and care and must be free of judgement.
What is concerning is that as yet, the National Council on
Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, NCGBVF, has not been
established. Treasury had allocated R15m for the establishment
of NCGBVF over a 3-year period with R5 million being allocated
in each financial year starting in 2020. However, there is no
movement on the NCGBVF and this has a massive impact on the
implementation of the national strategic plan which is there
to combat GBVF. With these delays we are seeing, women and
girls continue to suffer from violence on a daily basis.
Hon Minister, it is your department’s responsibility to ensure
that the national strategic plan is implemented, monitored and
budgeted for. Why has nothing transpired?

 
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Hon Minister, we need action that will empower women and
youth, these are the real issues that can unlock the scourge
of inequality and give women the weapon against GBVF. We need
programs that will equip them with skills to match the male
dominated world. Young women are succumbing to the pressures
of falling pregnant to gain access to child support grant as a
means to an end to support their needs as women. Women need
real freedom to be able to fight the scourge of these
inequalities.
Youth unemployment has a negative effect on the individual and
the family, but also on the broader community in the form of
serious economic and social consequences. This includes
economic welfare, production, erosion of human capital, social
exclusion, and crime and social instability. Substance abuse
has become the haven for young people, and there is a need to
address this with a remedial method before it affects their
ability to be competent in the employment sector.
It is estimated that the unemployment rate of persons with
disabilities in South Africa is in excess of more than 90% and
approaching 100% in rural areas. This is totally unacceptable.
Disability is more prevalent amongst females in comparison
with males. This puts an immeasurable burden on women in our

 
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society. Women empowerment is crucial and requires very urgent
attention. This department could be a champion department if
they were only able to deliver addressing women issues on a
broader scale.
This department to my knowledge is completely out of touch
with the realities on the ground, and had it not been for
civil society organizations, we would be faced with more
dilemmas than what we are currently facing. This department
really needs to forge working relations with other government
departments so as to provide a holistic approach to the
challenges being faced by women, youth and people with
disabilities.
The Department of Safety and Security needs to be proactive in
dealing with cases of GBVF. We need safe houses for victims of
violence, we need access to the Department of Social Services
so that women do not have to turn to selling their bodies to
make ends meet. Women are dealing with more than they can
handle and are in dire need of comprehensive support from all
spheres of society, but more especially from this department.

 
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The Department of Arts and Culture also needs to come on board
to help with structural interventions to mould young people
and to keep them focused and occupied.
There is a huge need for accountability, proper monitoring and
evaluation processes from all the key role-players entrusted
by government to deliver. The National Youth Development
Agency, NYDA, has to play a visible and meaningful role to
fulfil its mandate on empowering youth and fight youth
unemployment. In doing so, it will assist in seeing a decline
in crime related incidences as more young people will be able
to enter the labour market.
We note with concern the vacancies in the NYDA for regional
manager positions in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and the
Western Cape. These are critical positions in a country that
is hugely confronted by youth unemployment. Minister, we urge
you to address this matter as quickly as possible. There is no
time to waste.
In conclusion, Minister, this department needs to be more on
the ground and less in the media, this will go a long way in
contributing towards the improvement of the lives of women,
youth and people with disabilities.

 
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Hon Minister, we can no longer continue to live in a country
where women, youth and people with disabilities are rendered
less human and subjected to continued abuse, killings and
inequalities. This war has to end, and it must end now. The
ball is in your court, show this country that you care, it
will be to the benefit of all. I thank you.
Ms N NDONGENI: Hon House Chairperson, hon Deputy Chairperson
of the NCOP, hon Minister, hon Chief Whip, hon members,
special delegates, members of the society, good afternoon. The
young people in our country have become to one of the most
vulnerable in our society. We have to acknowledge the vast
devastations that were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic,
which were not exclusive to South Africa alone. COVID-19
devastated economies the world over and a number of people
lost their source of income due to the implementation of
lockdowns.
Young people in South Africa face numerous challenges, the
biggest being unemployed, poverty, crime, unequal education
opportunities, and mental health matters. However, we realise
that most of these challenges that young people face stem from
the high levels of unemployment. It is easier for youth to be
drawn to toxic societal ills when there are limited

 
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opportunities available for them. However, as government we
believe in taking care of the vulnerable in society and
mitigate the challenges that young people face.
We acknowledge that the causes of unemployment in South Africa
can be attributed to lack of education and training, labour
demand and skills mismatch, lack of interest for
entrepreneurship.
Ours as government is to turn this around, we have to ensure
that young people, in particular, have to possess the
necessary skills that are required in the labour market, we
have to drive innovation and support with programmes that are
aimed at increasing an interest to entrepreneurship. If we are
to attain our goals of the National Development Plan, NDP, of
realising a 6% unemployment rate and 11 million additional
jobs by 2030 we have to address the main drivers of
unemployment in our country and develop our economy.
Statistics indicate that youth graduate levels of unemployment
are less compared to youth that do not fall into this
category. That thus leaves us with the responsibility to drive
the skills revolution, and encourage young people to seek
education, skills and knowledge required by the labour sector.

 
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Hon House Chair, and hon members the 4th industrial revolution
is before us and technology is transforming organizations, in-
demand skills are changing rapidly.
If we are to mitigate the challenges of unemployment, we also
have to transform skills to be aligned to those that are in
demand in the labour market. Furthermore, in mitigating the
high levels of unemployment amongst youth, as the ANC we are
cognisant that we have to advance the socio-economic
empowerment of young people.
The onus thus rests upon the department of Women Youth and
Persons with Disabilities to review the national youth policy
and legislation such as the National Youth Development Agency
Amendment Bill and therefore report on the recommendations.
The significance of the Bill is that, it will prioritise
interventions that support skills development and foster
employment. These include the provision of support for young
entrepreneurs, learnerships programmes and the implementation
of youth programmes.
As the ANC we are pleased to note that over the medium-term
period, the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, will
focus on providing interventions to support the creation of

 
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decent employment and the development of skills, and encourage
entrepreneurship, for all young people.
These interventions will take the form of financial and non?
financial support to enable young people to access skills and
jobs, establish and sustain enterprises, and gain access to
markets. Financial support is provided through grants to
township and rural enterprises run by young people, whereas
non?financial support includes accounting, website development,
business plan writing and marketing.
Notwithstanding the Presidential Employment Scheme that
continues to benefit young people which has created over
850 000 opportunities for young people. Young people also need
to be more absorbed into the public service, the employment
stimulus will also enable the Department of Home Affairs to
recruit 10 000 unemployed young people for the digitisation of
paper records, enhancing their skills and contributing to the
modernisation of citizen services.
We hope that more departments absorb young people into the
public service and not only in the form of internships but
also in the form of permanent employment resulting in

 
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sustainable futures. Noting that the public service has high
levels vacant posts, we hope that those post will be made
available for young people too.
We are adamant that this year there will be even more youth
and women that benefit from these initiatives to limit the
scourge of unemployment and poverty. We remain confident that
the Social Employment Fund will create a further 50 000 work
opportunities using the capability of organisations beyond
government, in areas such as urban agriculture, early
childhood development, public art, tackling gender-based
violence.
The most important aspect of this vote that is it will uplift
the lives and livelihoods of many youths and women at large.
A budget should always be responsive to the socio-economic
challenges that the country faces. Young people are not lazy,
young people need to be granted the necessary platforms and
opportunities for them to thrive. As the ANC we are well are
aware of the frustrations of young people and we are well
aware of the frustrations caused by the pandemic.
Further efforts to create employment opportunities for young
people have been made by government through the SAYouth.mobi

 
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platform for young work seekers to access opportunities and
support now has more than 2,3 million young South Africans
registered. Of these over 600 000 have been placed into
employment opportunities.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has also place
10 000 unemployed technical and vocational education and
training, TVET, graduates in workplaces from April 2022.
Noting that in his state of the nation address, the President
alluded that the private sector is responsible for job
creation, we hope that it creates job opportunities for young
people and absorb a high number of them.
Hon members, hon House Chairperson, earlier I made reference
to social ills affecting young people that can be attributed
to the frustration of unemployment. Statistics reveal that
more and more young people are experimenting with narcotics,
and many have become victims of sustainable abuse. This is an
issue that needs to be critically looked into amongst young
people as the use of drugs and narcotics can be detrimental to
the future of young people. Children as young as 12 are
reported to be experimenting with drugs.

 
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We therefore urge the department in partnership with various
stakeholders to drive a campaign against the use of drugs in
schools and tertiary institutions.
Drug dependency has especially hit the youth hard with the
average age now at 12 and younger and decreasing. South Africa
is also among the top 10 when looking at narcotics and alcohol
abusers worldwide. A study conducted states that between 7,5%
and 31,5% of South Africans already have a drinking problem or
are at risk of developing one.
Often driven by frustration and social challenges children and
youth turn to substance abuse to sort comfort. Therefore,
avenues and platforms that deal with bullying, depression and
mental health matters should be easily made available to young
people and all members of society to fight the now becoming
culture of committing suicide.
We hope that the department will take forward this please
working with the relevant stakeholders including the NYDA.
Substance abuse does not only affect the victim abut it also
can have a detrimental effected to those that are close to the
drug abuser, it disrupts the relations and alcohol abuse alone

 
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is one of the causes of gender-based violence and can even
lead to sexual violence. It is up to provinces to also see
that they have the necessary facilities such has rehab
facilities to ensure that victims of drug abuse can also
access these facilities.
There is a need to have positive role models in our society,
we need role models that do not make alcohol and drugs
fashionable. We need role models that model the kind of
society that we so envision. We need role models that do not
depict a life of crime as one of luxury.
Hon members and hon House Chair, young people are the future
of our country and it is up to us to safeguard their futures.
The ANC supports Budget Vote 20. I thank you House Chair.
Mr G P MASHEGO (Mpumalanga): Hon Chairperson, Members of the
NCOP, the Minister and the MECs present, it is indeed a great
honour for me to be accorded an opportunity to be part of this
debate. This policy debate is extremely important due to the
fact that, it seeks to ensure that we advance most of the
international and regional treaties we acceded to and some
ratified.

 
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The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women of 1979, Millennium Development
Goals of 2000, Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action
Fourth World Conference of 1995, African Charter on Human and
People’s Rights 1995 and a Solemn Declaration on Gender
Equality in Africa 2004.
Hon Chair, we have domesticated this commitment by ensuring an
institutional and legislative mechanism, to deal with
inequalities that exist between men and women. South Africa
ratified the 2008 SA Development Community Protocol on Gender
and Development, which requires a 50/50 representation on
women in political leadership by 2015. As the governing party
we voluntarily adopted the quota system, and the evidence
before us bears testimony that more women have assumed
political leadership roles within the ANC.
Political participation is a fundamental right for every
woman. This is further attested to by article 25 the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified
by over 21 countries which provides that, every citizen shall
have the right and opportunity without any form of
discrimination, to take part in the conduct of public affairs

 
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directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and
to be elected at genuine periodic elections.
Hon Chair section 9 of South Africa’s in 1996 Constitution
provides that, discrimination on the grounds of gender is
unacceptable unless deemed to be fair discrimination by
according the previously disadvantaged. In this case, women
have equal opportunities as men. We must critically ...
[Inaudible] ...whether or not South Africa’s ... [Inaudible]
...on equality according to women equal opportunities to
participate in politics, have been and continue to be
implemented within political parties.
Another critical factor is whether or not the environment
within political parties is conducive enough for women to
participate, and whether or not such participation is based on
malicious compliance within political parties. Hon Chair,
whilst the advancement of women within political realm is
appreciated. We are still confronted with a plethora of
challenges to deal with. We have recently witnessed the brutal
killing of women and children. The recent incidents that
happened in Mpumalanga are quite shocking. The brutal murder
of Hillary Gardee and the young girl Bontle Masdhiyane is

 
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worrisome. We appreciate the swift move by our law enforcement
to put this heartless killers behind bars.
The issue of power dynamics, which is predicated on dominance,
still prevail in our communities. Men have for centuries been
an enemy of women and children. Abuse and ...[Inaudible] ...
at the hands of men is has been common praise through any
society you choose to observe. And in in a contemporary world
they continue to wage war against the very people who become
the backbones of families, companies and society at large. Men
tend to commit violence against women as a means to exert
dominance and control, and that this was exacerbated by social
orders relegating domestic violence to a private problem of a
family.
We must continue with our public education initiatives,
campaigns and capitalising on media platforms, to convey the
message that violence against women and children cannot be
tolerated. Hon Chair, the message must be clear that
government declares war against women and children. On the
economic landscape, we have put in place mechanisms to ensure
that women at assume previously male dominated occupations,
and government has a number of programmes dedicated to women,
such as women in construction. We have witnessed a number of

 
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women venturing into agriculture and the support provided by
government is quite remarkable. One of the programmes which
continues to yield positive results is the Fortune 40 Young
Farmers Incubation Programme.
Hon Chair and members, a plethora of research found that the
economic realities of women in South Africa are such that,
they are not paid at the right level for the work they do,
exposing them to a form of economic dependence to their male
counterparts. Therefore, the first emergency measure that the
government ought to table, is a legislation which outlaws
gender pay disparity by 2025. We as a country have been
brilliant at using other countries as case studies for
policymaking. Now couldn’t it not be a better time to look at
the likes of Ireland, which became the first country globally
to outlaw the existence of gender pay gaps?
Hon Chair, South Africa is party to international laws and
agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities of 2006, which South Africa
ratified in 2007 which means that the country accepts all the
legal obligations that are imposed by this instrument. The
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPB

 
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seeks to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal
enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities.
Hon Chair, the CRPD defines personalities abilities to include
those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory impairments, which interaction with various barriers
may hinder their full and effective participation in society
on an equal basis. This is a clear recognition that persons
with disabilities are equal and valuable members of society
and should be recognized in all aspects of life. What is key
being whether we are doing enough to promote, protect and
ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with
disabilities.
We must continue to monitor oversight government commitments
on the 2% threshold in employing persons with disabilities. It
is also important for government to account for the positions
or level of employment for persons with disabilities and
whether their needs are catered for, such as braille and ramps
for all buildings. We must also find a way on legislation that
all constructed buildings are compliant to ensure that persons
with disabilities in joyful equal rights. It is also equally
important to ensure that persons with disabilities venture

 
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into businesses and that they receive the necessary support.
Our interests as Parliament must be how ... [Interjections.]
Therefore, I would like to encourage all in particular young
people to take advantage of the programmes available to uplift
your standard of living. No country in the entire world can
succeed in the realisation of socioeconomic advancements,
without placing education on top of the development agenda. In
conclusion Chair, I want to quote Tata Nelson Mandela, open
quote:
To deny people their human rights, is to challenge their
very humanity.
Mpumalanga Province supports the Budget Vote.
Sesotho:
Re a leboha (We thank you)
Ms S B LEHIHI: House Chairperson, the EFF rejects Budget Vote
20 on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
Setswana:

 
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Puso, bogolosegolo lefapha le, le paletswe ke go tsibogela
dikgwetlo tseo di lebaganeng basadi. Go gana lenaneotema le le
kgolaganang la puso go lwantsha bosetlhogo jo basadi ba
lebaganeng le bona jaaka dipolao le ditlhokofetso.
English:
This department has also failed to respond to the challenges
faced by people living with disabilities across all provinces
in South Africa. And despite promises of inclusion of persons
with disabilities as a priority group, women and persons
living with disabilities continue to experience a number of
challenges such as people with disabilities make up 15% of the
total population, and its estimated that eight in 10 people
living with disabilities are unemployed. The lack of equipment
and machinery for support in different institutions is
appalling.
Challenges faced by women, children and youth with
disabilities vary from discrimination, lack of support
centres, education facilities and many more. The situation is
worse for poor, black persons living with disabilities in
rural areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as they
often have to contend with issues regarding access to health
care, as they face more barriers. This despite the right to

 
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access to health care services being guaranteed by Section 27
of the Constitution.
Setswana:
Batho ba kwa Maquassi Hills ba ba tshelang ka bogwele le
bogodi, ba dutse mengwaga e feta meraro ntle le thuso tsa madi
go tswa mo Lefapha la Tlhabololo ya Loago. Botlhe, bana le
basadi ba phuagantswe fela jalo, go sena thuso ya metsi,
mantlwanaboithusetso kgotsa tsona dijo. Didikwadikwe tsa batho
botlhe ba ba tshelang ka bogole di thatafalelwa ke seemo se se
mo Aforikaborwa. Bontsi jwa dikolo mo nageng, ga di amogele
dikolo tsa bana ba ba tshelang ka bogole. Dikago tsa bone ga
di letlelele gore motho yoo tshelang ka bogole a kgone a
itsamaise. Bontsi jwa barutabana ga ba rupelelwa ka ditlhokego
tsa batho ba ba tshelang ka bogole. Se se dira gore go nne
thata go ka amogela bana ba ba tshelang ka bogole go tsena
dikolo tse di tsenwang ke bana botlhe.
English:
The story of disability in South Africa, remains one of social
oppression. This department has done nothing for women living
in rural impoverished areas.
Setswana:

 
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Basadi ba setse ba sotlakakiwa ebile ele bona ba utlwang
manokonoko a tshotlego le a botlhokotsebe. Ke bona ba ba sa
boneng tekanego mo megolong go bapisiwa le megolo ya bana
botlhe.
English:
This department has done nothing to ensure that women feel
safe in this country, and that those who are victims are
provided with shelter and protection. This department has
failed the women of this country; it has failed young people
and it has failed the differently abled. The mess that is the
National Youth Development Agency is proof of the continuing
neglect your department has for young people in the country.
Today, almost 50% of the population is unemployed. A great
number of the unemployed are women and young people, with 74%
of the youth of working age unemployed in this country. The
Minister has done absolutely nothing to promote initiatives of
young people in their fight against unemployment.
Setswana:
Lefapha ga le dire sepe go bona gore madi a kotlo ya batho ba
ba tshelang ka bogole, e ba kgontsha go itlhokomela le go
tlamela ditlhokego tsa bone gotlhelele.

 
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English:
This budget is ignorant of the great urgency needed to deal
with the problems of young people and young women in
particular. We reject this Budget Vote. Thank you, House
Chairperson.
Mr N HADEBE: House Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, the
Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
proudly stresses in its latest Annual Performance Plan that it
has developed three key pieces of legislation. These are the
National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill,
the National Youth Development Agency Amendment Bill, and the
Promotion of Women’s Rights, Empowerment and Gender Equality
Bill. However, the department fails to acknowledge its long
delay in introducing these Bills. In fact, the National
Council of Gender Based Violence and Femicide Bill, providing
for the establishment of the important multi-sectoral National
Council on GBV and Femicide, was only published in
October 2021 by the department.
This, after years and years of protest and countless promises
by the government that it is serious about eliminating Gender-
Based Violence and Femicide. One of the first steps promised
by government was the establishment of this council - yet

 
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years later - we still face empty promises. Policy development
and drafting of legislation mean very little, if there is no
real ambition to finalise such statutory measures and above
all, if there is no real enforcement of these tools, once
adopted.
The IFP also notes that the department’s Annual Performance
Plan fails to provide any targets relating to these critical
Bills. How is the committee to monitor any progress or
oversight over the finalisation of these Bills? It is a
critical failure hindering proper oversight by Parliament. The
IFP furthermore notes on consideration of the department’s
Annual Performance Plan, that there seems to be no uniformity
with the roll-out of the Sanitary Dignity Policy Framework.
This framework provides vital norms and standards for the
provision of sanitary products to vulnerable girls and young
women, especially in rural areas. The monitoring of this
framework should be a high priority for the department.
However, once again, we see little enforcement or proper
oversight. The sanitary dignity of vulnerable girls and young
women cannot be compromised by the failure of government to
ensure effective oversight.

 
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In conclusion, the IFP wishes to emphasise its concern with
the use of consultants by the department. It is highly
concerning that R2,3 million is budgeted for the use of
consultants to effectively do the work of the department.
There must be an effective transfer of skills from these
consultants to department officials, as we cannot allow this
expense in our current dire economic climate. The IFP –
nevertheless - accepts the Budget Vote. Thank you, House
Chairperson.
Ms D C CHRISTIANS: Thank you very much. Hon Chairperson, hon
members, and hon Minister, last Friday the South African
Police Service released its first quarter crime statistics for
2022 and appallingly it stated that 900 women were murdered in
the first three months of this year.
It seems that as a society we have become hopeless,
disheartened and desensitized to reports of women and children
being murdered and abused as no one bats an eyelid when
reading yet another report, stating, and I quote from various
media platforms;
“Man in CCTV footage captured on day of Meghan Cremer
murder could be the accused.”

 
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“Teen arrested for allegedly stabbing 85-year-old
neighbour to death.”
“In honour of Hillary Gardee, a mother failed by her
democratic society.”
“Three life sentences for serial rapist who tried to stab
victim in head with scissors.”
“Still no closure for Karabo Mokoena’s family five years
after her brutal murder.”
“KZN girl, 6, dead, while sister, 8, found naked with
bruises after they went missing in March.”
“Man allegedly stabs ex-girlfriend, kills her police
reservist boyfriend.”
“Ntuthuko Shoba guilty of killing pregnant Tshegofatso
Pule.”
“I could see this thing coming' principal says he told
teacher to get a gun before she was killed.”

 
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“Tembisa man charged with beating, raping partner while
holding her hostage for 6 months.”
“Neighbours say cop who killed ex always parked outside
her house, drunk.”
And so, hardly a day passes in South Africa without yet
another case of brutality against women is highlighted in the
media. We are losing the battle against gender based violence.
Last Sunday Barney Mthombothi wrote an article for the Sunday
Times, he wrote that he fears for the women in his life
because he fears gender-based violence, femicide and
disrespect of women. He expressed a fear that is the daily
lives of all women in South Africa, the fear of what we have
become as a society. He is right of course; Society has failed
hundreds of young women who have been murdered.
People in townships and villages across South Africa are
murdered day in and day out in their numbers by gangsters,
criminals, husbands, partners and thugs. Women and children
live in fear for their lives. Their rights are violated every
day and we must question whether the Constitution is any
protection for us at all.

 
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The department has regrettably not been able to respond
decisively to the plague that is gender based violence, nor
have they responded to the huge youth unemployment rate and
much less the plight of the disabled in the country.
An amount of R2,3 million will be spent on the use of
consultants to do work like writing reports and collecting
data, this begs the question; what are the current staff in
this department doing?
Additionally, 19 staff members are being paid more than
R1,2 million per annum yet the department is failing in its
core mandate. The department’s inability to work strategically
with the Department of Social Development and the South
African Police Service is of further concern as the one
department does not have a clue how to respond to the
challenges faced in the other.
Furthermore, of grave concern is the emergency response plan
on gender based violence that has now been scraped notably as
the worst performing program and not reaching their targets
for the previous financial year. Delays in reaching targets
and continuous changes in organizational structure has had a
huge impact on the department as we have seen Bills been

 
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delayed and the national council on gender based violence and
femicide still not established even though R15 million has
been allocated to this over three years.
The sanitary dignity of our young girls remains in jeopardy as
the department fails to provide any accurate information with
regards to the rollout of this program. According to
statistics, at least three out of every ten girls miss up to
seven days of school per month due to their period. During a
select committee meeting we raised the question of how many
schools were beneficiaries of this program and to date we have
had no response from the department, a clear indication that
they are failing our young women.
A recent study has found that there has been a decline in the
quality of police investigations of femicide cases, with many
dockets missing information or perpetrators remaining
unidentified. The report stated that there is a regular lack
of quality of police investigations when dealing with cases of
gender based violence and femicide.
The country does not need another bloated department with high
paid officials but rather a need for properly trained police
officers when dealing with gender based violence and femicide

 
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to ensure they are able to write proper statements and do
thorough investigations.
The criminal justice system must provide adequate feedback on
the progress of cases, perpetrators must be arrested without
delay and investigations dealt with professionally or these
perpetrators continue with their thuggery unchecked.
The ministry and the department's main priority is to ensure
that the socio-economic empowerment and rights of women, youth
and persons with disabilities are given priority in all areas
of society.
This department is failing dismally because women are
continuously subjected to gruesome killings and horrendous
gender based violence, offenders frequently walk away
unpunished, and youths and people with disabilities are
largely not catered for in the job market. We have reached a
crises point and the indifference of this department in
conjunction with the absence of a multi-sectoral plan has left
the vulnerable at the mercy of criminals. I thank you.
Mr I NTSUBE: Hon House Chairperson, the hon Minister, the
Chief Whip of the Council, the MEC present here today, it has

 
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become a dreadful tradition that annually we have to pay
condolences to families that have lost their loved ones, to
the obliterating pandemic of gender-based violence and
femicide, GBVF. This is a pandemic that we, as a country,
continue to grapple with without success. The fight against
gender-based violence requires every fabric of society to
confront toxic behaviours, and traditions.
The role to overcoming gender-based violence and femicide can
never rest on government alone; it requires us, our families,
our groups of friends, communities and the broader society. We
have to strengthen community structures in collaboration with
the South African Police Service, Saps, such as the Community
Police Forums to alert police of perpetrators of violence
against women and children.
We coveys our condolences to the Gardee and Mtwa families
along with the countless number of women and children brutally
killed that have not reached mainstream media. We are reminded
again as a country that the second pandemic of GBV has not
dissipated. It begs the question of why does such a vicious
pattern continue to persist in our country, why are women
continuously being obliterated in our country? We also have to
acknowledge that gender-based violence and femicide affects

 
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particularly those that are vulnerable in our society, women,
children and persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
The COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on every sphere of
life across the globe. However, women and girls have been
particularly impacted by this pandemic. Women have largely
borne the brunt of the pandemic, and it has been exacerbated
by already existing challenges such as inequality,
unemployment, gender-based violence and women’s economic
empowerment. It was devastating to see the number of reported
cases of gender-based violence during the lockdown, which was
a blatant reminder of the struggle that many women continue to
face daily. It was shocking to see that women and girls were
not safe in the comfort of their homes and had to resort to
centres to seek a place of safety.
Hon House Chairperson, as the ANC we have acknowledged that
gender-based violence has reached crisis proportions in our
country, and it affects every community in our country and
touches the lives of most families in one way or the other. We
note and understand that these manifestations are deeply
rooted in the patriarchal system that is embedded in the
systems and traditions of our country.

 
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Hon members, if we are to truly eradicate gender-based
violence in our society we have to dismantle the patriarchal
system that enable this toxic system to persist. We have to
understand that patriarchal oppression was embedded in the
economic, social, religious, cultural, family and other
relations in all communities. We have to ensure that all
manifestation of patriarchy such as the feminisation of
poverty, physical and psychological abuse and exclusion from
positions of power all need to be consciously eliminated if we
are to win the fight against gender-based violence and
femicide — through the elimination of manifestations of
patriarchy.
Recognising that a critical aspect is the creation of material
and cultural conditions that would allow the abilities of
women to prosper for women to reach their full potential. It
is through understanding and taking into account all of these
manifestations of patriarchy that the ANC aims to dismantle
the system of patriarchy. That is why we will continue to
harness economic opportunities for women and historically
disadvantaged persons such as persons with disabilities and
young people. A developmental state is known to have
interventions that improve the lives of its population. Ours
is to reverse the system that breeds many of our challenges

 
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such as poverty, inequality and gender-based violence and
femicide.
Acknowledging that the causes of gender-based violence are due
to toxic cultural and religious norms that promote toxic
masculinity, as a country, perhaps we should reassess certain
cultural practices and traditions and evaluate their
significance in our current time. This emanates from the
understanding that cultures, traditions and customs are
supposed to keep a people progressive by moving with the
times. We have to perhaps assess these traditions and customs
and evaluate whether they assist in solving our societal
problems or whether they worsen the conditions that we find
ourselves in at the present moment.
Hon members, gender-based violence begins in the home. It
stems from society’s patriarchal attitudes and how society
view women. We need to change our mind-set and the way we
think, the manner in which we teach our boy children to view
women. We have to ensure that in schools, from the foundation
phase, we have an intense programme that moulds the minds of
the children to think and see things in a gender neutral and
progressive manner. We have to teach them about the dangers of
psychological and physical abuse.

 
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Society is made up of families, and there is a need to
strengthen the family unit. We have to ensure that what is
taught in school is re-emphasised in the school and society,
and this can be done through awareness campaigns aimed at
communities and families. Government alone cannot fight
gender-based violence; it requires the participation of every
fibre in society and it begins with each and every one of us.
In building a non-sexist and nonviolent society, we have to
call each other, men and women alike, on our toxic behaviours
toward each other. We need to confront toxic behaviours within
our own spaces and need not to make abusers comfortable. We
have to be positive role models that our children can look up
to, so that we can prevent minors assaulting each other. We
have to create a culture of activism in our society, and
everyone needs to be a part of it. We have to re-install basic
fundamental principle of protecting the most vulnerable in
society. We have received numerous cases of children being
abducted, mutilated and killed. It is nauseating to imagine
that a country like ours with a progressive Constitution would
treat children in this manner.
Our Constitution enshrines a rights-based approach and
envisions a prosperous non-sexist and nonviolent democracy

 
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belonging to all. As the ANC we are adamant in building a non-
sexist and non-violent society, where women and children feel
safe and are free to walk the street without harm. A society
that continuously improves the lives of women, where
discrimination and patriarchal attitudes against women will be
addressed. However, we know that responding and combating
gender-based violence requires a multi sectoral approach which
led to the implementation of the National Strategic Plan, NSP,
on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
Hon members, we should always be in support on mechanisms that
aim to address matters of gender-based violence. We have to
ensure that all provincial departments incorporate the NSP in
their planning and conduct programmes partnering with civil
organisation to further drive the implementation of the plan.
Provinces should also develop their own gender-based violence
programmes and campaigns particularly working with local
government so that programmes can actively reach members of
communities.
Through legislation reform we have called from stricter bail
conditions and harsher sentences for perpetrators of violence
and sexual violence against women and children. As the ANC we
have taken the stance against gender-based violence seriously

 
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through the formation of the Caucus Gender-based Violence and
Femicide Task team. As the ANC-led government we will continue
the advancement gender equality through inclusive economic
growth and women empowerment.
We welcome the National Council and Femicide Bill, however, we
hope that the process of fast tracking the establishment of
the council will be put up to speed. We also welcome the fact
that government is fast tracking the implementation of the
three gender-based violence Bills.
Hon House Chairperson, gender-based violence has no place in
our society, and we all have to play our role in fighting it
because somewhere somehow each and everyone of us might know a
person that is abused. Another matter that we need to be
crucial of is gender-based violence against men, perpetrated
by women. We need not to be biased when we are addressing
gender-based violence as a concept. The culture of humiliating
a man when reporting a case of abuse has to be rejected and
cancelled. Cases of gender-based violence have to be treated
equality and when women are perpetrators of abuse, they have
to receive the same about of punishment. Our society must be
zero tolerant when it comes to all cases of abuse. The ANC

 
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supports this Budget Vote 20. I thank you very much, House
Chairperson.
Debate Concluded.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr K M Mmoiemang): Thank you, hon
Ntsube, for taking part in the debate on Women, Youth and
Persons with Disabilities, which is Vote 20. Hon members,
because of the Minister’s commitment, hon Ntsube was the last
speaker for the day. That concludes the debate. I wish to take
this opportunity to thank the Minister, MECs and all special
and permanent delegates for availing themselves for the
debate. Hon members, this concludes the business of the day,
the House is adjourned.
The Council rose at 17:28.

 

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