Mr Speaker, on Thursday last week, hon President Jacob Zuma had an opportunity to come before this House and give Parliament and the people of South Africa an honest assessment of the most pressing issues facing our nation.
Instead of assuring us, he revealed his true political colours. In his response to my question on whether the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, AMCU, as a trade union, should have been given an opportunity to participate in wage negotiations at the Lonmin mine, President Zuma said, and I quote:
We have more rights here because we are in a majority and you have fewer rights because you are in a minority and that is how democracy works.
Mr Speaker, the Presidency spokesperson has since argued that the hon President's comments were misconstrued. There is nothing to be misconstrued. His comments were clear for everyone to hear. I have written to President Zuma asking him to unconditionally retract these problematic comments about our democracy. They are unacceptable. The ANC should distance itself from such comments and publicly endorse a retraction by President Zuma. [Interjections.]
Hon Speaker, on a point of order.
Hon member, there is a point of order. What point of order are you raising, sir?
What is wrong in stating a ...? [Interjections.]
What is the point of order, sir?
The point of order is ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Order!
The point of order is that the statement made by the President is based on the Constitution and the meaning of democracy.
Proceed, hon member. Order, hon members! Order!
Mr Speaker, we can see that the problem of leadership in the ANC is not just confined to the Presidency. [Applause.]
In a young democracy like ours, it is important to have leaders who are able to rise above party lines and uphold the Constitution in both word and deed. I thank you. [Applause.]