Mr Speaker, I don't want to offer any advice to you on the Rules. Suffice it to say that I am not a Minister, but a Deputy Minister.
The issue that was raised, which I wish to support and commend, is an issue relating to the Department of Basic Education, as well as Lead SA's initiative on the Bill of Responsibilities. I do believe that this will fill an absolutely vital lacuna in our national psyche.
One of the most important rights that South Africans have is the right to citizenship. It's an absolutely fundamental right. The right to an identity document and birth certificate is a fundamental right. It is hoped that, as part of this campaign, we are also taught about our responsibilities to protect those rights, our ID documents and birth certificates. At the moment the department is in the midst of a campaign called the National Population Registration Campaign, where we are going around the country encouraging South Africans to register their children within 30 days of being born and making sure that all South African citizens who are 16 years and older have identity documents. It is hoped that as part of the Department of Basic Education and Lead SA campaign, South Africans are encouraged not just to support this campaign, but also to ensure that identity documents are kept safely. There are far too many reissues that the department has to deal with on a day-to-day basis. This creates all kinds of problems relating to identity theft and even company theft. There are also marriages that South Africans are entering into. They are marriages of convenience to foreigners that I also think we should discourage as responsible citizens. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: The hon member across the floor shouted out "What about the babies? You don't care". I think that impugns our honour. I certainly care and I know that so do all members. [Interjections.] The fact of not responding does not mean our integrity can be impugned, as the hon member is suggesting. We wish he had responded many years ago.
Can we be honourable members in the House, please?