Hon Speaker, with regard to the visit of President Obama, the issue is not about what the hon member raised, but rather that the visit was politicised from the moment that the DA made an application, and the way they went about doing it.
What happens during protocol arrangements? The City of Cape Town was supposed to consult, engage and discuss. Principally it was a good idea but the process was then supposed to be followed. None of that was done. The day when the decision was taken, we made a call to the hon Mayor of the City of Cape Town, through the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, Minister, and said that our advice was to follow the process.
Stubbornly so - I don't think it was the mayor - a kind of elite team around her, Neilson and others, then decided to do what they have done and instructed the mayor differently.
What then happened after the horse had bolted and when there was clearly a problem of people writing letters to the mayor, saying that it was unacceptable - not the ANC in this case - the mayor then tried to get the President to intervene in the process as there was a problem. Civil society started raising critical issues of consultation. Then they tried to pull the President in, and that was where it went wrong.
The second problem was that the Leader of the Opposition in this House did not go to the Chief Whip of the Majority Party but went public and said that they wanted President Obama to come and speak in this House. Basically what they have done is to politicise an official engagement. [Interjections.] You should have waited on the process ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon member! Order!
That is fundamentally what the problem is. Finally, I just want to say that one of the ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Order! Yes, hon member?
Hon Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Allow me to address you.
The hon Minister is misleading this House. [Interjections.] The parliamentary leader of the DA wrote directly to you in connection with the state visit, and not to the Chief Whip.
Hon Speaker, that's not a point of order.
That's not a point of order, hon Speaker.
Order, I have not recognised any of you to speak! Speak, hon member.
Speaker, the point raised was not a point of order. [Interjections.] If she had said ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! [Interjections.]
Speaker, there's no point of order that's been raised. [Interjections.]
Hon Speaker, I need to appeal to colleagues that, just as when somebody stands we afford them the opportunity to speak, they should allow members of the ANC to express themselves. I think the howling is out of order. [Interjections.]
The second thing I want to say ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon members, order!
The ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP OF THE MAJORITY PARTY (Mrs M T Kubayi ... is that what hon Kalyan raised is not a point of order. If she wants to argue she must do that. The Rules are very clear on points of order, and we have agreed that frivolous points of order are contributing to the degeneration of decorum in the House.
That was not a point of order but perhaps a point of information. Continue and conclude, hon member.
The last point is that, as Minister Pandor was speaking, one of the hon members of the DA shouted that he wished Mandela was back.
Yet, when Madiba was around, they actually went to Mitchells Plain and said, "Hou daardie man uit." [Keep that man out.] They actually said that he was the worst of mankind. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members!
Suddenly, today, when Madiba has gone and after he has left active politics, he becomes their darling. That is wrong. Thank you. [Applause.]