Hon Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, hon members, distinguished guests, the Department of Home Affairs' policy debate before this august House today is informed by the ANC-led government's mandate, which derives from our 52nd national conference held in Polokwane in December 2007, and also from previous national conferences.
It was at this 52nd national conference where, as the vanguard liberation movement, we adopted policies that are grounded in the commitment to promote, protect and serve the interests of all our people. Whilst taking into account the interests and needs of South Africans, we are also conscious of our responsibilities and duties in relation to being a signatory to various United Nations protocols, conventions and declarations, and other instruments which govern the status of refugees and migration.
Furthermore, we are guided by our 2009 election manifesto that unambiguously commits us to a service delivery culture that will put every elected and public servant to work for our people, and ensure accountability to our people.
Moreover, during the state of the nation address, we were directed by our President, Jacob Zuma, amongst other things, to commit ourselves to the service of our nation with dedication, commitment, discipline, integrity, hard work and passion. Together we must build a society that prizes excellence and rewards effort, and which shuns laziness and incompetence.
As we all know, the Department of Home Affairs is grappling with a range of challenges that can, at best, be described as transient. The Department of Home Affairs' Budget Vote debate today seeks to introduce us to a period of renewal, as the input by the hon Minister of Home Affairs advised. This, we believe, will provide us with the tools to not only address the challenges head-on, but also to function in an accountable and transparent fashion.
This brings us to the vexing question of corruption in the Department of Home Affairs. As we all know, the Department of Home Affairs is a vital cog in the war on poverty, since its mandate spans the entire lifetime of every citizen who is born and dies in our country. In this regard, they represent the face of the delivery cycle of government and are inevitably the first encounter with government by any person in South Africa.
Suffice it to say that particularly the issue of corruption will be amplified and sensationalised by some members of the House and those with unpatriotic agendas. However, closer scrutiny of the department's initiatives and innovation in the war on corruption reveals that they are indeed turning the tide, despite their acknowledgement of weak security processes.
Let's look at the facts. Over the last financial year the department has established a countercorruption unit, resulting in the resolving of information-technology-related risks. This collaboration gave birth to a new system, which can detect potential fraudulent transactions. Monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance with minimum information security systems, and there is evaluation and certification of business processes to eliminate risks in new processes. Over 300 cases have been finalised. This sends out a clear message of zero-tolerance of criminality in any form.
We applaud the department for the digitisation of records in the department and also for the introduction of the smart card programme.
These initiatives and advances are indeed significant and commendable. As the select committee we wish to assure the department of our unfailing co- operation and commitment to the period of renewal.
In contrast to these good initiatives and advances, there are challenges that are still facing the department. I would like to highlight the following issues. To begin with, there is the audit disclaimer that the department has been receiving for a period of years. We hope and trust that the department will be able to deal with this matter as a matter of urgency so that, in the next financial year, when we stand here we report a different story.
Another issue is the maximisation of mobile units to rural areas. The department also has to pay attention to its office accommodation or office infrastructure countrywide. The intensification of the Batho Pele programme is also critical.
Having said that, we can by no means afford to be complacent as the perpetrators are always one step ahead in terms of devising new means and methods. We shall, as we must, remain vigilant.
In our election manifesto of 2009, the ANC pledged to establish a consensus on our future social security system to make it comprehensive and inclusive. We believe that the department will be central to the formulation and implementation of this system, since access to social security is, in turn, central to the mandate of the department. And, as we know, currently, social exclusion remains a bone of contention in all our communities, particularly for the rural poor.
In this regard and in relation to rural development in the context of the developmental state, we wish to urge the department to take up the cudgels for rural communities that do not have secure, efficient and accessible services and documents, since rural development cannot only translate in a narrow agrarian sense. As you know, the select committee, notwithstanding its mandate, namely to exercise oversight and do monitoring, is looking forward to engaging with the department in a robust but cordial fashion. We will, as we must, constructively criticise where criticism is due.
As of now, we are confident in the knowledge that the department will exercise its primary responsibility with prudence and in the national interest. Also, we wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on her new role and new responsibilities. No doubt she brings invaluable wisdom and experience to this portfolio. Together we can do more, hon Minister. The select committee will support the Vote. Thank you very much. [Applause.]