Speaker, ek het vir Nelson in 1994 hier in die Parlement leer ken.
Wat vir my nogal opmerklik was, was dat, ten spyte van ons agtergronde wat aansienlik verskil het, ons op die verdedigingskomitee saamgestem, maar soms ook verskil het. Die besondere eienskap wat Nelson egter gehad het, was dat hy dit altyd met respek en waardigheid gedoen het.
Ek dink hy is 'n voorbeeld van die ou garde wat, hoewel hulle verskil het, mekaar nog steeds met respek en waardigheid kon hanteer. Ek wil eerlikwaar s dat hy sy bydrae gelewer het in die verdedigingskomitee en ek dink sy afsterwe is 'n groot verlies vir die ANC.
Natuurlik, uit die aard van die saak, wil die VF Plus graag sy medelye uitspreek teenoor sy familie, dat hulle 'n geliefde verloor het.
Die uitstaande kenmerk van Nelson was dat hy altyd met my Afrikaans gepraat het. Dit was 'n teken dat as ons mekaar se tale praat, ons ook grense kan oorkom. As 'n medesoldaat wil ek s dat ek hom salueer in terme van dit wat hy gedoen het. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr P J GROENEWALD: Speaker, I got to know Nelson in 1994, here at Parliament.
What was quite remarkable to me was that, despite our backgrounds differing significantly, we could agree in the defence committee, yet sometimes also differ. But the remarkable characteristic that Nelson had was that he would always do so with respect and dignity.
I think he was an example of the old guard who, although they could differ, still treated one another with respect and dignity. I want to state truthfully that he made his contribution in the defence committee and I believe that his passing is a big loss to the ANC.
Of course the FF Plus would naturally like to convey its condolences to his family, who have lost a loved one.
The outstanding characteristic of Nelson was that he always spoke to me in Afrikaans. That was an indication that if we could speak each other's language, we could overcome barriers. As a fellow soldier I want to say that I salute him in terms of what he has accomplished. I thank you.]