Mr Chairman, that is the type of point of disorder that these people put!
The case is before the Constitutional Court, where it will be adjudicated to restore a right that has been enjoyed since the first parliament in Athens, the Boule [Ancient Greek council], and the Roman Senate, and enjoyed in each parliament since. However, we do not have that right!
That is why the hon Trollip has needed to come here and humiliate himself by asking permission to do what is obvious in each and every democracy, which is to have the right to introduce a Bill. We no longer even have a table before us where a Bill can be tabled.
What the hon Trollip is putting before us is not about President Zuma. It is about the Presidency, the most important institution in the country - the one that must unify everyone and in which we should take pride. We have not voted for this President, but we want him to be beyond reproach. We want this institution to function and the President to succeed because, if the President fails, the whole of the country fails. We are behind the President, whoever the President is, because he is the one who leads us.
What the hon Trollip is trying to do here is to come humbly and ask for permission - which he does not need under the Constitution -merely to have the possibility of strengthening the Presidency, no matter who the President is! I feel that it is humiliating and unfair for any of us to have to give permission to a colleague merely to present a Bill, which should go to the committee, and should be discussed on a par with any other Bill submitted by the executive.
On that basis I think we should give him the opportunity of being heard. Let the Bill go through, and if it is a bad Bill it can be killed in the committee. But we are operating like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, who famously said, "Off with her head!" and "Sentence first - verdict later." What we are doing is killing a Bill before the committee has had an opportunity, through public hearings, bilateral discussions and consultations, to decide whether or not it is a good or a bad Bill. That is the fundamental flaw of this democracy at this juncture. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Motion agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Report accordingly adopted.