Chair, humanity, a spirit of ubuntu and the history of our nation demand that we pay real attention to the issue of people seeking refuge or asylum on our shores. We applaud the Department of Home Affairs for their continued attention to the matter and this Bill is a testimony to that.
However, we would like to point out that refugees are not the responsibility or concern only of Home Affairs. It is time that we see an integrated service delivery vehicle that includes the departments of Health, Education, Social Development, and Justice and Constitutional Development.
Sir, 2009 saw us getting 18 700 unaccompanied minors and it is disappointing that this Bill does not directly cater for this problem and all the technicalities related to it.
South Africa is reported to be the largest asylum destination in the world, but how are we making sure that the people that seek refuge on our shores do receive such refuge? I ask this because we had expected that this Bill would deal more effectively with the real issues, like the provision of safety, health, education and general wellbeing. Disappointingly, this has not come out strongly. The UCDP supports the Bill. [Applause.]