Mr Speaker, it was my privilege to have known Jack Tolo since we became senators together in 1994. The Senate consisted of only 90 members and, because it was so small, its members got to know one another rather better than we in the National Assembly know one another. Over time, Bishop Tolo moved from being a political opponent to a respected colleague and then to a close friend.
Moruti, as we called him, was born and grew up in Sekhukhune, in Limpopo. His parents were very poor and he was forced to begin work, as an agricultural worker and then as a driver, when he was very young. He never lost his love of agriculture, for the people of his community, whom he served with such distinction, or his disgust at bad drivers. He constantly complained that young people got driving licences too easily, and that was the reason why there are so many accidents on the road.
He was a simple, straightforward person who knew what was right and what was wrong. He fought for what was right and was passionately opposed to what was wrong. That was what drew him into the struggle for democracy and justice in South Africa and into politics. Because of this passion, he wasn't a person who slavishly followed any particular party line. He was his own man, and he expressed to me his distaste for some political views, particularly for the views of the president of the ANC Youth League, long before it became fashionable to do so.
He was also a person of profound faith. He was a Bishop in the Apostolic Church, and took his ecclesiastical responsibilities very seriously. He was an impressive preacher and used the skill with great effect at this podium, seldom with a single note, particularly when he was speaking about matters that he felt deeply about. He was also a genuine apostle and he was worried about my salvation and used to talk in that deep voice and say, "Selfe, you would never go to heaven if you don't go to church".
He and I and many other colleagues served together in the Select Committee on Security and Justice, in Senate, and later in the Portfolio Committees of Defence and Correctional Services. In fact, Bishop Tolo and I served continuously, since 1994, on the committee dealing with correctional services so long that we became known as "Blou Baadjies", the name that offenders give to habitual criminals.
His passion shone through in that committee as well. He believed in discipline, order and in paying one's debt to society. But, he also believed that each human soul is created in the image of God and that, therefore, human beings are redeemable and able to be rehabilitated. He was also very proud of this democratic Parliament that he had helped to create. Only last Thursday we were talking about the fact that there were now only 27 members of both Houses of Parliament who were Members of Parliament in 1994. Tragically, there are now only 26.
His death and the way he died are terrible. We speak often about crime in this House, but it is when a ghastly murder like this happens that we again appreciate the reality faced by hundreds of thousands of victims of violent crime in this country. We trust that the perpetrators of this horrible crime will be arrested soon and face the full force of the law. His death has robbed us all of a gentleman, a patriot, a priest, a parliamentarian and a leader. But, it has also robbed us of a great friend. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Salome, his children and grandchildren, his congregants, his community and to his colleagues in Cope. The one consolation that we can all draw in this terrible time is that, whatever happens to my soul, I am absolutely certain that his is in heaven. Rest in peace, my friend. [Applause.]