Deputy Speaker, I wish that when there are specific cases that hon members come across, they would do as hon De Freitas does, and refer the case to me so that I can assist where we may have breached our procedures. So, if there are such cases that you and the hon Makhuba are aware of, hon member Dudley, I would be very keen to assist in that regard.
In processing illegal persons, foreign nationals that are at Lindela, we of course rely to a great degree on assistance from international nongovernmental organisations, such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, as well as on embassies and high commissions of countries from which these nationals come. Should we be assisted expeditiously, we are able to process the matter very, very quickly. But where we do not get assistance, either in confirming that this is a national of a particular country, or in providing them with appropriate documentation so that they may travel, the stay at Lindela is made longer and begins to fall foul of the Act.
What we have done is to put in place a process of monitoring the length of stay at Lindela, so that on a fortnightly basis I am aware of exactly what is happening. Should intervention be required, we are then able to act.
We really do rely on the collaboration which we get from many embassies. Some do pose challenges and are not always as helpful as they should be, but I am sure they also believe they are facing a very difficult problem.
I may say that we do not deport where we are very sure that we have evidence that there is a situation of civil conflict or there is threat or harm to the person that we have come across. In such cases we do try to assist to legalise their stay in our country.
Position regarding disciplinary steps taken in connection with sick note
11. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) asked the Minister of Police:
Whether any disciplinary steps have been taken against a certain member (name and details furnished) after the said person obtained a sick note from a family member for being absent from work; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NO278E