Hon Speaker, we feel a great sense of anguish at the untimely death of Minister Collins Chabane.
Like his beloved family, the ANC and the people around the country, we too are bereft at his being snatched away from us.Comrade Collins was young, humble, honest, principled, ethical and brilliant and some of us knew that. This is why we, as a patriotic opposition, are so distraught.
His younger brother, Percy, made the most telling point of all. He stressed in television interviews that Comrade Collins repeatedly urged his family to keep in mind that he was in government and therefore never to do anything that would besmirch his name. He did not use his government position to gain wealth or fame by whatever means. He valued integrity above everything else. That is what made him so special and so different.
In government he stood out as a towering figure in the demand for accountability. It was because of his unswerving adherence to values that he endeared himself to us.
He had it all and now he is gone. We needed him. The country needed him. His family needed him. We say to all those who loved him: Follow in his footsteps and serve the people with a clear conscience.
Cope expresses its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, the nation at large, as well as the families and friends of Lesiba Sekele and Lawrence Lentsoane. We understand that they are all inconsolable at the moment but we hope they will regain hope.
I must say that I knew him very well, and if I were to go back to 1990, my comrades of course will remember what happened at the University of the North where he played a major role in making sure that things were all right. I hope things will be fine. Sorry about this whole thing. Thank you very much.