Mr Speaker, Cope notes that the Minister of Defence admitted last week in this House that her department had no capacity to secure the borders of our country. The serious implication of her admission should be more closely scrutinised, since the inability of the Defence Force to secure our boundaries has a major impact on national security, food security and the need for developing a strong emerging-farmer sector in South Africa.
A recent site visit to Kosi Bay border post revealed that border control is in a shambles in this country. This was evident from a glaring gap in the fence right next to the control post. This allows a free flow of people and their livestock from Mozambique to South Africa and back again. It came as a shock that there was free movement without any passport control at the popular Gate 6. More than 12 access gates are wide open. Our country is a country without a yard. A free flow of livestock carries the risk of foot- and-mouth disease in poor farming communities, with implications for the export of meat products. Consequently, we will see a decline in income from trade and industry.
All this is notwithstanding the outstanding and gallant efforts by the Minister of Home Affairs to clean up our border posts and clean up corrupt officials. It is clear that illegal immigrants are moving freely in and out of our country at border posts - which does not mean it is free. Some are paying significant bribes to do that.
It is clear that we will never root out foot-and-mouth disease and stop illegal trade, even human trafficking, if the Defence Force is not capacitated to do their work. It seems that ordinary South Africans who survive through livestock and agriculture ... [Time expired.]