Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon members, in April 2009 Cabinet took a decision to return the responsibility of border security to the SA National Defence Force. This therefore makes Defence the principal department on border security.
Very strong defence co-operation exists with all Southern African Development Community neighbours, with whom we share a border. These are underpinned by a SADC co-operation agreement. In addition, South Africa has signed a memorandum of understanding with all our neighbouring countries. For each of our neighbouring countries we have a Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security. These ensure maximum co-operation from state to state and at the levels of affected departments, such as Home Affairs, State Security, the SA Revenue Service, Justice and Correctional Services. The commissions meet annually to review co-operation and conduct joint operations to combat crime and exchange information.
There are quarterly border forums with all our neighbouring countries, and from time to time they deal with matters that may affect our common border security.
Even though this level of co-operation has not been in existence for long, it has yielded very good results. The World Cup was not only protected by South Africa, but all our neighbouring countries stepped up security on their own borders to ensure a secure Fifa World Cup. Thank you. [Applause.]