Once our population register is credible, accurate and comprehensive, we can be sure that the passports we issue are indeed issued to South Africans. This has been one of the weakest links in our population register as passports have found their way to people who should not have them.
Research is being undertaken to determine whether we can delink the process of taking fingerprints from the ID application. We would like to explore whether we can take the fingerprints before the application for an ID so that, when someone applies for an ID, their stored fingerprints can immediately verify that they are on the South African population register and therefore can be given a temporary ID there and then. Such a system will also facilitate the acquisition of the ID, as it would not take as long as it does now.
We are going to use various technologies in order to secure our documents. We are going to use digitised photographs. We will have stations, starting with the 13 busiest offices, which will have live capture of any information, whether they are looking for a passport or an ID. It is difficult to tamper with information that has been captured live. This means that people do not have to keep bringing photographs which can be removed. We will look at digitising our records as well. The electronic document management system will be upgraded.
We also want to pursue the smart card issue. At the moment, it is delayed by the State Information Technology Agency, Sita; because Sita is supposed to recommend the awarding of the tender. We are looking at getting the process back on track, because we think it is not only for our convenience - instead of carrying a booklet, we will carry a card - it will also have much better security features. We will be able to clean out some of the people who are on our population register who should not be there.
I would like to tender an apology. We launched a new passport printing machine in April 2009, which produces an excellent passport with good security features and a distinct South African look and feel. Unfortunately, official tardiness in putting in place an effective personal information processing system that matches the high security requirements of the passports, has resulted in the creation of a backlog. The department and I have undertaken that there will be no backlog by the end of July 2009; we will be back to our normal flow. [Applause.]
Secondly, we have a mandate that is concerned with the management of migration. While our mandate emphasises regulation and control of the movement of persons at each of the 72 designated ports of entry, technological advances and changes brought about by globalisation make it possible for the department to carry out those migration functions beyond our national borders. This will include strengthening control of the movement of persons at areas of entry. It will also include advanced passenger processing - especially for 2010 - and biometric verification, resulting in a seamless integrated movement control system, particularly at our airports. We have also piloted an events visa during the Confederations Cup and this visa will also be used in 2010.
We have prioritised the issuance of quota work permits to foreigners who fall within specific occupational classes or specific professional categories. As I said, South Africa needs some of the scarce skills which we cannot find within our borders in order to grow its economy. We will have to have a deliberate process of recruiting those scarce skills into South Africa.
We are also exploring, in conjunction with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, the possibility of locating the adjudication process for students, scarce skills and some business permits in our diplomatic missions abroad in the country of origin of the applicant. I believe that this will improve turnaround times. It will also improve the verification procedure, as it would be easier to verify a person's particulars in the country of origin.
The other area of emphasis in the coming years is going to be prudent financial management. We shall work hard, as the department has already started doing, towards a much improved audit report. We have to tackle the revenue management and all the areas of concern indicated by the Auditor- General.
The transformation of the department will not happen overnight. It started a couple of years ago and it will take several more years to complete. It has to encompass people, processes, policy, technology and legislation if need be. Focusing on one area without the others will be futile.
All these good intentions will remain hollow, unless there is a good, hardworking, dedicated, honest, patriotic team that will implement it. As a Minister, I will only be as successful as the quality of the team. "Motho ke motho ka batho!" [A person is a person because of other people.] [Applause.]
We shall endeavour to build a department that is characterised by such values as people-centeredness and care; patriotism and the absence of corruption; professionalism with integrity; accountability and transparency; and efficiency and innovation.
We are aware that there are many vacancies that have not been filled. Given the budget constraints arising from the global economic conditions, we shall be unable to fill all of them. In the next few months we shall concentrate on the recruitment of deputy directors-general so as to ensure that the department has competent leadership. In turn, those deputy directors-general have to ensure that they bring competent, professional officials with a high level of integrity into the department.
We also have to address the lack of skills and poor management through proper training. The Deputy Minister will say more about that. Although there are thousands of hardworking, honest civil servants at Home Affairs, unfortunately there are many corrupt officials who work with syndicates, with corrupt members of the public and sometimes with corrupt private security members and some corrupt businesses.
We are going to strengthen the anticorruption unit. More effective and efficient measures need to be employed if we are to make a difference. For us to succeed, it will have to be a national effort. Security companies, members of business, Members of Parliament and, more importantly, the public have to assist, both in alerting us to the culprits, and also in resisting temptation themselves. We are of course grateful to some of the members of the public who have begun to assist in this regard. For our part we are determined to root out all the corrupt officials wherever they are found. Of course, we will also root out the lazy ones. [Applause.] In my view, if you earn a state salary and you have not done an honest day's work, you are corrupt.
The other area in which we are going to need the help of hon members and the public at large is in the effort to reduce the number of people applying for repeat IDs. Every year, more than a million IDs produced are repeat issues. In the context of the present global economic situation we cannot afford to keep reissuing IDs. So, I am asking you and the public to take care of your IDs as though your lives depend on them. We will not have the budget this year to continue reissuing IDs to people who have had IDs. That certainly cannot continue; we have to conserve resources.
The efforts of transformation cannot succeed without a strategic relationship between us and our key stakeholders. Accordingly, we shall endeavour to have a good and dynamic working relationship with all our key stakeholders, including yourselves and the media.
May I express my gratitude to the Deputy Minister, hon Malusi Gigaba, who has had to initiate me into this department, to the Director-General, Mr Mavuso Msimang, to the management team with him there, to the turnaround team led by FeverTree, and to all those hardworking, honest officials, for the work they have done thus far.
In conclusion, allow me, hon members, given this difficult task, to draw inspiration from the wise words of the founding father of our democracy, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, when he said: I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my walk is not yet ended.
I hope hon members will support our budget. I thank you.