Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, director-general, officials of Home Affairs, hon members of this House, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to pass on my greetings to the House at large. Our President said clearly in his address that we are here because of the mandate given to us by the people on the ground. Also, we need to do our work as much as those working in the government sectors must do their work.
There has been an ongoing outcry about the issuing of identity documents and other documents. People apply for identity documents but what they constantly experience is that these documents do not reach them in time and, in other instances, do not get to their destinations. Officials keep some of the identity documents which do not belong to their areas, thus disadvantaging people in accessing their rights.
These documents are our lives. The loss of them at any given time can result in a mess in someone's life. If they are not issued in time, someone is not exercising his or her right. If there are identity documents, hon Minister, in the offices, let those identity documents be collected and use volunteers to distribute the identity documents within the communities and use a very close monitoring system for that. For this purpose, you can also use the mobile systems to bring the service closer to the people.
This department must also promote social security in society. It is this department that manages the ins and outs of this country by managing migration. People who are asylumseekers must know where the line is drawn. If the border gates could be thoroughly and closely monitored, no illegal immigrants would be able to get into our country. Illegal immigrants are also helping in committing crime, thereby increasing the country's crime rate.
The smart cards that are to be issued by the department are long overdue. We have been waiting for them for the past two years. The 2010 soccer World Cup might also bring in more illegal immigrants who will not want to go back to their home countries after the event. From this day onwards, hon Minister, security must be tightened by taking the necessary precautionary measures to avert this from happening.
Officials that are found to be corrupt must be brought to book and be charged accordingly. Put up systems that are effective, efficient and integrated, and that will minimise corruption by the officials. The department must update and maintain the national population register. Security measures must be tightened to assist in preventing officials from fraudulently entering individuals' information. In our identity document campaigns we should also teach our people that it is important to keep an identity document and what it does to the economy of the country to always repeat what has already been done.
Put up more asylumseeker points of entry in all provinces. Also, try to work hand in hand with the local government to identify illegal people and use the voters' roll because, for sure, those people did not vote and are not on our voters' roll. Each and every office should have a hidden camera, because this could help in combating crime and prevent illegal identity documents.
Without doubt, the ANC's policies on crime prevention, particularly with regard to organised crime, are working. The department alone cannot achieve the desired results. It needs us, as Parliament, and the community to assist in combating any wrongdoing. It is advisable, therefore, that this department work hand in hand with the health and social services departments if we want to speed up and improve service delivery.
Madam Minister, the strengthening of the anticorruption unit will be highly appreciated and supported. We put this on our shoulders, as a Parliament and as the ANC, because we know that there is no other government that can do this, and there is no other government that could do it better than ours. Hon Chairperson, it is only the ANC-led government that knows that working together we can do more. That is why the opposition parties, as you have heard, are making a noise because we are a moving vehicle. Hon Chairperson, this budget may not cover everything to one's satisfaction, but it is mostly welcomed and supported. I thank you. [Applause.]