Deputy Speaker, there is a question, which I will indeed refer to my colleague, around the reconsideration of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, and considering learners who are already in the system to make sure that they are not prejudiced because of their colour, and that they are also assisted during the current economic environment.
The one issue I want to respond to, which I really think is a very unfortunate misinterpretation and a misleading of the House, is on the issue of certificates. The truth of the matter is that the current certificates were incorrectly done. I think everybody's philosophy is that if something is wrong, you correct it. You correct it now; you don't postpone the correction.
The certificates, as the member correctly alluded to, came out wrongly. Umalusi accepted that they had not done the certificates according to specifications. We agreed with Umalusi that matric certificates are papers of pride for our children. They must get them right for them forever. I think it is correct for our children to wait for the correct certificates until the end of August - this very August - when they will get their certificates. The delay was because of the paper which is imported. But I think we all agree that if something is wrong, we correct it; we correct it the first time around.
Umalusi requested that we give back this year's batch of wrong certificates and that they will correct them next year. I said they should correct them now for all our children. I am not sure what is wrong with correcting what is wrong at the time when it is wrong and giving our children the correct certificates, which they will have forever. I think I was quite correct, and I stand by that.
I think it is again unfortunate that a member would really assume that one has the lowest level of vanity such that they delay certificates for some personal glory. I think it is unfortunate and very sad for a member to reduce one's sense of self to that. This was a personal attack. I think it is unfortunate because this was not for me but for the benefit of the kids. [Interjections.]
Stop howling at me, because I kept quiet when you were talking. [Applause.]