Speaker, this past Sunday, City Press carried an article under the heading, "Pakistani mafia rules". If it is factually correct, the content of the story has grave implications for us. The article alleges that syndicates, through bribing officials of Home Affairs, walked out of detention to unleash a wave of terror throughout South Africa, leaving in their wake a host of murders, kidnappings, drug-and people-smuggling operations and robberies, as well as bribery and corruption. It alleges further that Lindela Repatriation Centre is a centre where money is key because according to the department's countercorruption unit earlier this year, at least 46 illegal foreigners have greased the palms of corrupt officials and guards to walk out of detention centres.
Cope, as a consequence of what is being publicly reported, urgently demands that Home Affairs expose these syndicates and deport their members. Cope further calls on Home Affairs, with the assistance of the police, to trace and detain all these dangerous illegal immigrants and subject all corrupt officials immediately to the full rigour of the law. Furthermore, Cope strongly believes that government must assess whether the countercorruption unit is making any progress in their task to fight corruption in government. I thank you. [Applause.]