Chairperson, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to thank the Minister for her frank and honest appraisal of the state of affairs in the Department of Home Affairs. It is no secret that, currently, the department has a tarnished image and is notorious for sloppy service. It is thus incumbent on the department, as a matter of urgency, to rid itself of employees who tarnish its image and reputation ... [Applause.] ... or that of honest and loyal employees who work diligently every day to advance the cause of our people and country.
The image of the department has to change for the better, and that change can only be brought about by a drastic improvement in the quality of services that the department provides. President Jacob Zuma, in his state of the nation address and in the Presidency Budget Vote, committed government to ensuring that all three spheres of government - local, provincial and national - improve service delivery.
In carrying out its oversight function, the portfolio committee will be guided by the principles of Batho Pele and its commitment to ensuring that services delivered by the offices of the Department of Home Affairs are efficient, caring and responsive to the needs of citizens and foreign nationals. Our non-negotiables are that civil servants should be at work on time, with no neglect of duty and with no intransigence, rudeness or any form of abuse of clients. [Applause.] It will thus be our ongoing duty, in conjunction with the Ministry, to ensure that the provision of courteous and efficient service by the staff of the department takes place at all times.
In the fight against corruption and fraud, we will support the department, the police, and law-enforcement agencies to root out corrupt officials who continue to collude with criminal syndicates. We thus call on members of the public to report all instances of bribery and corruption to the police. It is only when all of us take up our civic duties and responsibilities that our shared value system based on honesty, integrity and justice will become an integral part of the functioning and ethos of the Department of Home Affairs.
Another serious matter that has contributed to the negative image of the department has been the series of audit qualifications it has received. In the 2007-08 financial year, the department's financial statements were disclaimed for, amongst other reasons, firstly, a lack of supporting documents in regard to transactions relating to the immigration account allocated to the departmental account; and secondly, the lack of an audit trail with regard to immigration fines and penalties.
The Auditor-General also raised several noncompliance matters. Of particular concern was the noncompliance with sections of the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury regulations and the Public Service Act.
An important element of the department's turnaround strategy in building a new and positive image and ensuring operational stability will have to be its compliance with legislation and matters of governance. It will have to institutionalise the gains made and lessons learned from the audit processes.
The department will also have to consolidate and further improve operational and service delivery quality and efficiency at all levels, from front-line offices to back offices where processing takes place. This will, obviously, call for a cadreship of highly motivated, productive, disciplined and honest staff, because the effectiveness of any strategy is ultimately dependent on the integrity of those entrusted with its implementation.
It is important that the significance of the Department of Home Affairs be appreciated in broader terms than its role in determining the status of citizens and the issuing of enabling documents. The Department of Home Affairs plays a crucial part in defining who we are as a nation and in building a democratic and inclusive society by enabling citizens to access their constitutional rights, including their right to vote.
From its responsibility of determining the status of asylumseekers flows a challenge of how we, as a nation, engage with those given refugee status, especially at the levels of provincial and local government and communities. There is thus an ongoing need for discussing and resolving how government and civil society organisations define their responsibilities towards refugees and migrants, co-ordinate their efforts, and promote tolerance and understanding.
In conclusion, today, being the 54th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, the time has come to turn a new page in the Department of Home Affairs. In carrying out our oversight responsibility we, as the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, will engage in a critical and constructive relationship with the department in order to assist in turning it into a centre of excellence.
In pursuit of this objective, we will remain in touch with the clients and stakeholders of the Department of Home Affairs and listen to their needs. As the ANC correctly reminds us, "Working together we can do more." I thank you. [Applause.]