Hon Deputy Speaker, Ministers and Deputy Ministers of this House and hon members, this debate comes at a time when our economy is reeling at its inability to produce jobs, and it is a concern shared by many people of our country, including professionals and employer organisations. When he announced the idea of making this the year of job creation during his state of the nation address, President Jacob Zuma said all the departments in his Cabinet, including Home Affairs, would very much be in touch with the reality of creating jobs. However,what we see today, by the repeal of section 46 of the Immigration Act, as suggested in this current Bill, is that the principal Act, as it recognises this section, will no longer recognise the immigration practitioners.
We have received letters from a number of organisations in which they raise their serious disapproval, saying that this section should not be removed. We are talking about organisations such as Business Unity SA, Busa Lawyers for Human Rights, the Law Society of South Africa and, of course, the Forum of Immigration Practitioners of South Africa -Fipsa, the organisation representing all the immigration practitioners. They make a very strong point, saying, and I quote:
The repeal of section 46 of the Immigration Act is in effect eliminating the role of immigration practitioners, will in fact stifle economic growth in this country, and will further cause serious problems in terms of foreign investments and creation of jobs by major companies, some of which are national and some international.
Furthermore, section 35 in this Bill suggests that electronic passenger lists should be transmitted before travel. For instance, if you have a flight that is going to Gauteng, a list of all passengers should be submitted to the Department of Home Affairs, and the DG should first approve it before they fly. The reality is that this particular section is going to ground many flights and create a huge traffic jam on the ground. So, we cannot support it.
Abaqhubi beetekisi kuza kunyanzeleka ukuba xa bekhwelisa abantu erenkini baqale bacele okanye babuze kuMlawuli-Jikelele ukuba, "ndingamkhwelisa na lo mntu, ulungile na?" Ukuze aqale afumane incwadi ke etshoyo. Kwakhona, xa emothula eza kukhwelisa uMnqasela kuphindwe kuthiwe, "yiza nenye incwadi evela ku-DG". Ayibhadlanga loo nto ngoko ke asoze sikwazi ukuyamkela.
Sekela Somlomo, elandelayo ingxaki esiza kuba nayo yeyokuba ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The taxi drivers will be compelled to ask the director-general first when they take passengers at the taxi rank, "May I take this passenger, is he or she all right?" Then he will get a document that confirms that. Again, when the passenger alights from the taxi and Mnqasela gets on board, there will be this request, "Bring another document from the DG". That doesn't make sense and therefore we cannot accept it.
Deputy Speaker, the other problem that we will encounter is that ...]
... the department does not have the capacity to deal with such things. There was no consultation with the Department of Transport, and I am happy that the Minister is sitting there. He should be worried that we are going to have such measures, which are sure to create problems for the transport system in this country. [Interjections.]
The last thing I want to say is that I appreciate the support from all the opposition parties. They are being productive and developmental by not allowing the ANC to bulldoze this Bill through Parliament. We want this Parliament to reject this Bill.
HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear!