Madam Speaker, the amendments I introduced are elementary. They also create the same unit but it is called the South African Bureau for Investigations, Sabi, which I believe relates to the word fear - "saba" in isiZulu. They place the unit in the Ministry of Safety and Security, but the head of the bureau will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of Parliament. The head of the bureau will have the rank of a director-general, responsible to Parliament through the Minister and not through the commissioner. The head of the department will also be an accounting officer in a separate item in the budget of the Department of Safety and Security.
The amendments will give the unit the degree of independence it needs. They retain the multidisciplinary composition and the concept of a prosecution- led investigation. Of course, they can have experienced prosecutors in the unit, hon Jeffrey, because we have discussed the difference between investigating prosecutors and prosecuting prosecutors. There is no problem with that.
May I explain that we have not proposed any amendments to the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act. Why is that? This is because we voted against the amendments. Our idea is that - and we think - the Scorpions should have coexisted with the new unit, been phased out as they finished pending investigations and then been disbanded through legislation when they were finished with their work.
I also put the amendments so that South Africans would know that there was and there is a proper alternative to what was proposed by the ANC. Furthermore, I also put these amendments as a last chance to many ANC members, who honestly do not agree with the Bill in their heart of hearts, to vote for the amendments. Finally, I want to point out that you have the authority to refer these amendments back to the committee for discussion before we vote on the main Bill as it stands. I suggest you do that to give my hon colleagues a second chance of thinking about the Bill. [Applause.]