Chair, this is in response to the hon member who spoke about the forensic audit regarding the smart identity card. As you know, hon member, the State Information Technology Agency, Sita, is under the Department of Public Service and Administration. Naturally, if the Sita does a forensic audit, the report will be submitted to the relevant Minister.
In that regard, our Minister has not been furnished with the report. So, no matter how much we try to force her to release the report, she doesn't have it. The decision that we took in requesting the National Treasury to take over this process arose from the concern that the mere fact that a forensic report had been commissioned meant that there were problems.
To pre-empt whatever problems there may be, we made a request to the National Treasury to take over this process to safeguard its integrity. When the report is ready, it will be made available. In the meanwhile, the National Treasury has been requested to take over the process to safeguard its integrity, so that we can move on with the smart ID card. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Thank you, hon Deputy Minister. Are there any more ministerial responses?
Hon members, I know you have raised the issue, and we will follow it up with the Minister. [Interjection.]
Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform is in the House, and one of our members, the hon Pretorius, raised a question directly related to his portfolio. I would like the Minister to respond. [Interjections.]
Hon Minister, do you want to respond?
Hon Chair, I didn't regard that question as having been referred to us; I thought it referred to agriculture. But the hon member may repeat the question and I will look at it, and then take it to my colleague. Thank you.
Hon members, you have expressed a view and an opinion of the situation we see in the House now - that Ministers are not here. And I think we have agreed that we will refer the matter to the Speaker. Yes, this is not a good reflection on our working democracy. Also, this is not very good for Parliament's image, integrity and standing in society. [Applause.] So, let's just leave it at that for now until the Speaker takes up the matter up with the Leader of Government Business. [Applause.]