Mr Speaker, in their haste to race to the election polls next year, the DA has taken to rewriting their history. In their desperation to claim legitimate struggle credentials, the DA has presented a glowing, selective and highly dishonest account of the DA story.
They have conveniently forgotten to highlight the following: The DA's previous formations or mergers, such as the laughable one with the New National Party; its various name changes; the contributions of previous leaders such as Tony Leon and his "fight back" campaign or his support for the death penalty as a campaign message; underspending on infrastructure and grants to needy learners; the fact that DA party leadership across structures largely consists of white males; their attempt to close schools in the Western Cape that caters mainly for poor coloured and African communities; caring more about white farmers rather than the human rights violations perpetuated by these farmers against their farm workers. [Interjections.]
Order hon members! Hon member, there is a point of order.
Speaker, I rise on a point of order: the content of the statement is highly racist as it makes reference to whites and blacks and I submit that it is not parliamentary.
Hon member, that is not a point of order; it is an opinion. Proceed and conclude, hon member.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The racist and highly inflammatory statements which refer to blacks as refugees and the tasteless terms of professional blacks and the use of words such as compounds; fighting against apartheid from within the comfort of the hallowed halls of a racist Parliament; or reporting on the story of the death of Steve Biko can hardly be a cause to claim that they fought against apartheid. Competing with the ANC on the basis of history and our main ... [Interjections.] ... is a nonstarter, and Madiba is not for sale. [Time expired.] [Applause.]