House Chairperson, I just want to let the House know that, after some serious work on my lips, the Minister is reconsidering her position that she won't kiss my lips. We are getting a bit closer. [Laughter.]

Mhlalingaphambili, yingxuba kaxaka le ujongene nayo, Mphathiswa. Ingxaki yeli sebe ayiqalanga kuwe. Hayi kakubi dade wethu, ungathi sikubetha esikhumbeni. Inkathazo yeli sebe inzulu nto leyo ebangela ukuba singakwazi ukuluxhasa olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali. Sikhe sandwendwela iinkampu zamajoni siyile komiti yezoKhuselo, amanyala enyoka esiwabone kolo hambo lokongamela ngamasikizi.

Izindlu zokuhlala amajoni kunye neendawo zokuchopha azikho mgangathweni. Alala kwindawo ezingaphucukanga, nala mabanjwa bawagadileyo ndiyarhana alala kwiindawo ezingcono ukodlula la majoni ethu.

Omnye umcimbi ke otshisa ibunzi, ngulo wamajoni ayeselubhacweni. Isebe lakho lirhuqa iinyawo kule nto. Ikhona imalana eliyinikiweyo kodwa asiboni ziphumo zincumisayo. Mihla le sifumana iminxeba evela kumajoni ayeselubhacweni, ekhala ngokulala ngendlala. Zezo zinto ke ezibangela ukuba sithi hayi khona dade wethu, khawubhinqe omfutshane mhlawumbi kwithuba elilandelayo sakuthetha ngcono.

I-Cope ayikwazi kuluxhasa olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali phantsi kwezo zizathu. Ndisatshaya. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)

[Chairperson, you are facing an intricate problem that is very difficult to solve, hon Minister. The difficulty of this department didn't start with you. This is not intended as an attack on you, my sister, you must not say we are being personal. The problematic situation of this department is very deep, something which makes it difficult for us to support the budget. We visited the soldiers' camps, as this committee of the Department of State Security, and what we experienced there during our oversight visit was horrific and appalling.

The soldiers' residences and toilets are not up to standard. They sleep in unsuitable places, I will not be surprised to find that even the prisoners they are watching over sleep in much better places compared to our soldiers.

Another urgent matter is that of soldiers who were in exile. Your department is dragging its feet on this matter. There is some funding that was given to it but we haven't seen any fruitful outcomes. We receive telephone calls from the soldiers who were in exile on a daily basis, complaining about starvation. These are the things that make us say to; not this time, my sister, you must tackle this task with more determination and maybe next time we will have something more positive to talk about.

Cope cannot support this Budget Vote under these reasons. I thank you.]