Speaker, recently the Human Rights Commission released a damning report on the Child Protection Register. In that report it is stated in regard to the Minister's department that resource constraints and financial limitations are the reasons that the department has failed to monitor the Child Protection Register. In fact, the Minister has just reiterated those two points here today.
Minister, could you inform the House about how your department can spend R1,9 million on new cars, over R2 million on furniture, and over R6 million on overseas trips, and yet claim that it has financial constraints when it comes to fulfilling a core responsibility? Thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Speaker, I think each and every department has responsibilities and those include reporting to the United Nations. My department has to report on women and the progress made since Beijing. A lot of progress has been made, except by the DA! [Interjections.] Zero by the DA! It also has to report on programmes we are implementing in regard to people with disabilities.
I want to make it clear that I did not buy furniture for R2 million. I am not doing shopping for my department! I also want to reiterate the DA's lies, that I paid exorbitant bonuses to my officials. I have never paid a bonus to any official since the inception of this department. The DA, in its desperation to campaign for more votes, is busy misleading the House and the nation. I want to clarify that ... [Interjections.]