Parliament began its budget vote debate process in earnest yesterday. In his budget vote speech, the Minister of State Security, Mr David Mahlobo, characterised the high level of poverty and inequality in our country as a serious threat to state security. “The majority of our population in this country that are blacks, in general, and African in particular are economically disempowered and are already understandably impatient and dissatisfied with the lack of real economic gains from our freedom. These levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment are unacceptable, unsustainable and pose serious security threat to our nation.
“As the security services, the thrust of our mandate is outlined in NDP [National Development Plan] 2030, he said. “In 2030, people living in South Africa must feel safe at home, at school and at work, and enjoy a community life free of fear. Women must be able to walk freely in the street and children play safely outside.
“In seeking to fulfil our legal mandate, we are always mindful of the need to find checks and balances to government’s use of excessively harsh measures towards citizens in the name of national security,” he said.
He pointed out cyber-crime as one of the biggest financial security threats facing the country and also singled out the danger of illicit financial flows. “A significant amount of cash was detected leaving South African borders to foreign jurisdictions, estimated at R80 billion per annum in illicit financial flows.” He reassured the nation that his ministry will strengthen its capacity to deal with these challenges.
In support of the State Security budget vote, the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, Mr Charles Nqakula, praised the department’s work of integrating disparate forces into a single, united intelligence entity.
Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Alliance, Mr Hermanus Groenewald said that border control has become contentious issue around the globe. “The South African and Zimbabwe border is a national disgrace. If you want to bring something across it, it is wide open. Particularly drug trafficking across the border is a serious concern.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejected the State Security budget vote because, said EFF MP Mr Phillip Mhlongo, the South African intelligence community is not cogent. “There is currently no cogent, integrated South African national security strategy and anything that does exist lacks substance, as has been illustrated by the many threats to our national security.”
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Mr Russel Cebekhulu said that the long time it took for the ministry to fill the position of Inspector-General of Intelligence has compromised intelligence gathering. “The entire security cluster has found itself handicapped by this and this has not only hindered the ministry’s work, it has also exposed the nation to unnecessary risks.”
“We have no reason to reject the budget vote of the ministry,” said Mr Sibusiso Mncwabe for the National Freedom Party. “However, we are not sure as to whether it is enough to counter all the security threats our country might face. Given all the cybercrimes, our agencies must upgrade their standards and be better equipped to counter them.”
Budget vote debates are the culmination of budget proposals previously made by government departments and entities to their committees in Parliament, which stipulate their financial needs to fulfil their 2017/18 annual performance plans and strategic objectives.
Abel Mputing
17 May 2017
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