House Chair, on behalf of the ACDP, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends of the late Deputy Minister, hon B V Gloria Hlongwa, as well as to the families of the four people who also died tragically in the same accident.
Other members have eloquently spoken about the hon Hlongwa's youthfulness, skills and knowledge and we support the sentiments that have been expressed.
We were deeply shocked when we heard the tragic
news of her passing and it is significant that she had stopped to assist another at an accident scene, when a truck crashed into her vehicle. She died helping others.
This accident also illustrates how vulnerable we as Members of Parliament, Deputy Ministers and Ministers can be as we travel frequently on oversight and other trips.
We must do more to ensure the safety of our members and all citizens on the roads. We need to pray more and we need to take action to ensure safety.
Minister Mantashe quoted Psalms:
Our days are numbered. Yes life is indeed short. James
4 teaches us that our lives are like the morning fog -
it's here a little while, then it is gone. Life is indeed fleeting - as we again see with this tragedy.
There are no guarantees about tomorrow, let alone next year, or in five or ten years. If we ignore this lesson, we will not live our life properly in the light of eternity. We need to make our plans and live our lives according to God's commands and purposes - and to make sure that we are in a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and have repented of our sins.
Life is short and death is a certainty. Make sure that we emulate the hon B V Gloria to spread love, forgiveness and reconciliation wherever we go and this House our nation is desperate for this.
I would also encourage members in this Parliament to support and to pray for one another. There is a prayer group. The hon Kate Bilankulu and Magoshi Dikgale and the ANC's Deputy Chief Whip. Let us pray for one another, let us stand together. Yes, we differ politically often but it is time for us to hesitate for a moment and let this life mean something to us. We
rejoice in the fact that she is with the lord Jesus Christ.
To conclude, we in the ACDP, we pray that our heavenly father will surround the Hlongwa family and friends and the ANC, with his love and peace at this time. Let us remember malibongwe igama lenkosi. Praise the name of the lord. I thank you.