Deputy Speaker, hon member, first of all, let me say that, with regard to this Advanced Passenger Processing system, we worked together with the other members of the security sector. If a person's name is on the Interpol or our own police list it will show and that's precisely why we want advanced processing, because such a person will not even board the plane if we find out that he's trying to come here.
Therefore our system will be working with them, linking with our own list of people who are known to be criminals, but those whom we do not have on the system we do not know, and they may have criminal intentions. It will be very difficult to find them.
I wish Home Affairs had the powers to be able to see what people's intentions are. Unfortunately we can't claim powers that we don't have. We cannot know which people do have criminal intentions and which don't. But those who are already known and who are on the list will show.
Regarding the security at the Lesotho border, you are right. It's not just the security and whether people are being searched, it's also the fact that even the documents that Basothos produce are not really proper documents, and we have discussed this matter in the department and we have agreed that we are going to engage Basothos whilst also looking at our own side, because unfortunately there are agreements that were reached with the government of Lesotho that allow some of those things to happen.
There is an agreement by which you are given a six-month permit to come and go any time without even being scrutinised by the immigration officer. It's an agreement that is in operation. There is another one that we are stalling and which we are going to renegotiate, but that is in operation, so we have agreed as a department that we are going to review and then sit down with the Basothos and discuss the issue.
But we are going to do that with other countries as well, just to see how we can tighten up our security, not only for 2010, but in general, because we have found out that people fly via O R Tambo to Lesotho, they get those pieces of paper from Lesotho and then they come in as Basothos. So, it is a problem. We have identified it and we are trying to deal with it.
And I'm happy that hon Members of Parliament have visited these posts. We should discuss these issues and share ideas on how to strengthen our security and also how to review some of the agreements that we already have with them in order to, whilst allowing freedom of movement, not undermine security. Thank you.
Particulars regarding suspension and investigation of certain persons 165. Ms H N Makhuba (IFP) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:
(1) (a)(i) When and (ii) why were certain persons (details furnished) suspended;
(2) whether they were suspended with full pay; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what was the total cost to her department;
(3) whether the investigation and disciplinary process against the said persons were finalised; if not, why not; if so, (a) when and (b) what was the outcome;
(4) what was the total cost to her department for salaries which were paid to all suspended officials pending the finalisation of their disciplinary procedures for the 2008-09 financial year?