“Corrupt officials must go, at whatever level. Corruption undermines not only the department but the country.”
Addressing the National Press Club under her newly inducted portfolio as minister of home affairs on Monday, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma highlighted the need to do away with corruption and iron out problems in the department of home affairs.
Briefly discussing the mandate of the department, describing it as imperative, being the “custodian of ‘South African-ness’”, Min Dlamini Zuma went on to discuss the department’s plans to regulate and improve its services.
Evidently the bringing to book of corrupt officials was at the top of her list.
While deputy minister of home affairs, Malusi Gigaba, said corruption should be seen as a bilateral crime with both officials and people in the community committing crimes such as ID fraud and bribery, Min Dlamini Zuma focused on members in the department.
“We must have a zero tolerance attitude to corruption. The individual who is corrupt should not be at home affairs. It is a crime and such people should be punished. The justice system should assist us in this regard.
“It undermines our country’s own security and demoralises the honest. It is more serious than we think,” she said.
Other issues raised, included cleaning up of the population register.
“The implications of an inaccurate register, Min Dlamini Zuma said weighty, affect the government, individuals, the tally of births and deaths and the nation as a whole.”
An investigation as to what the youngest possible age was at which fingerprints could accurately be taken in order to issue IDs would also be done, said Min Dlamini Zuma and a campaign in which the department will visit primary schools to ensure children are registered, will be launched.
She mentioned the possible imminence of ‘smart cards’, computerised identification methods taking over IDs and possibly allay fraud among community members.
“This may take a while however, as we are having problems with the tender for the system.”
Min Dlamini Zuma said ultimately, the public at large should realise it is a national effort to manage home affairs and we ought to be proud of our identity as South Africans.
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