Deputy Speaker, Cope and all our citizens have a right to be proud of what we have achieved as South Africans. Behind us is a period of ugly oppression. Now, thankfully, at this very moment in time we live in a time of guaranteed human rights.
However, the question I need to pose is whether these rights are indeed guaranteed.
Sal Chumani Maxwele saamstem dat die President se veiligheidsamptenare menseregte in ag neem? Sal Suid-Afrikaners gemaklik rus in die wete dat die polisie besig is om die apartheidsera se militre rangstelsel terug te bring? En nog belangriker: Wat van die nuwe "skiet om dood te skiet" houding van die regering? Ironies genoeg het Popcru vandag 'n optog gehou teen die feit dat die rangstelsel ingestel word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Will Chumani Maxwele agree that the President's security officials take human rights into consideration? Will South Africans rest at peace in the knowledge that the police are bringing back the military rank system of the apartheid era? And even more importantly: What about the Government's new "shoot-to-kill" attitude? Ironically, Popcru held a protest march today against the introduction of the rank system.]
Anyone who has read George Orwell's book Animal Farm will know how the gains of democracy are reserved. Sixteen years ago all the gates were thrown open, and we were free. Now, little by little, a few gates are being closed here and there. The Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, for instance, tried to stop committees from summoning Ministers to their meetings. In the National Assembly, a member is asked to withdraw a statement, not because it is unparliamentary, but because it is critical of the President. Thankfully the caucus of the ruling party opened the gate again.
Sommige amptenare wat korrupsie teengestaan het in Mpumalanga is f doodgemaak f gedreig. In die Noordwes word beweer dat die regering departementele kontrakte weggee aan maatskappye wat nie hul belastingnakomingsertifikate verskaf nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Some officials who opposed corruption in Mpumalanga have been either killed or threatened. In the Northwest it is claimed that the government gives departmental contracts to companies that fail to submit tax clearance certificates.]
Somehow, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Thousands of Reconstruction and Development Programme houses are going to be demolished, because they were so badly built. This will see billions of rands going down the drain. What South Africa needs is a democracy with legs. Our present state of democracy has people lying on their backs. Our present state of democracy can find R5 million to take Parliament to the People for four days but not for enough beds in hospitals.
Baie van ons in hierdie Huis was saam in die stryd vir vryheid. Dit is nou die tyd om terug te kyk en weer eens beginsels voor ons persoonlike winste te sit. Soweto, Sharpeville, Orange Farm en baie ander plekke in Suid- Afrika skree duidelik vir ons dat hierdie demokrasie nie werk nie. Ons skuld dit aan hulle en hulle nageslagte om te kyk wat fout is in ons regering. Ons moet terselfdertyd nie terugkeer na die ou apartheidmaniere nie. Die verlede moet nie swaarder weeg as die toekoms nie. Baie dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Many of us in this House were together in the struggle for freedom. Now is the time to look back and once again put principles above personal gain. Soweto, Sharpeville, Orange Farm and many other places in South Africa shout it from the rooftops that this democracy is not working. We owe it to them and their descendants to look at what is wrong in our government. At the same time we must not return to the old apartheid ways. The past should not count for more than the future. Thank you. [Applause.]]