... that the experience is a nightmare. In fact, it's probably easier and faster to get a divorce in our country. [Laughter.]
Although the department promises delivery in weeks, in many instances it takes months. The main reason why it takes so long is that someone up there in Pretoria has to manually verify the details of the parents before they can issue the certificate. [Interjections.] Now, just picture what a primitive system we have when someone up there is probably running between hundreds of boxes trying to find documents to prove a child's parenthood. We urgently need to digitise the system in order to ensure faster turnaround times. This impediment will, no doubt, impact on the number of children who will travel abroad with their parents and this, in turn, will impact on the revenue that is generated for the broader benefit of our country.
The International Air Transport Association estimated that inbound and outbound travel in South Africa was worth R24 billion last year. A quarter of this came from people travelling with children. This means that we place at risk a potential R5 billion in revenue because of the introduction of just this one new requirement.
Hon Minister, I completely understand your attempts to reduce child trafficking in our country. But please, sir, explain to this House why you introduced such a stringent requirement when you know that the Department of Home Affairs cannot deliver these documents in time for people to travel. It is more sensible to strengthen the department's ability to deliver on these certificates first, and then introduce a tighter control mechanism. Your approach, hon Minister, simply does not make sense. [Interjections.]