Chairperson, Minister and hon members, gone are the days when state security was employed to serve the interests of a minority group that viewed the majority of this country as a threat to their security. Was the late Steve Biko a threat to state security? I don't know what the answer is. Today we believe we have a State Security department whose role it is to protect all the citizens of South Africa irrespective of colour, gender, creed and political affiliation. This important department has a constitutional obligation to observe the utmost impartiality in the execution of its duties.
It is important for the State Security department to adhere to the important principle of impartiality in carrying out its duties, however intense the political pressures of the day. As citizens of this country, we therefore, quite correctly, expect the State Security department to serve us with impeccable diligence.
The UDM would like to urge all the employees of the State Security department to adhere to the principle of political neutrality at all times in service to the people of South Africa. This will go a long way towards ensuring that the State Security department wins the faith and confidence of the people of South Africa.
The UDM would also like to urge the Inspector General of Intelligence to speed up and complete the restructuring of state security units under her control for the purpose of effective service delivery in the intelligence environment. The UDM supports this Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]