Deputy Speaker, independence is a state of mind. Independentmindedness is first and foremost a quality which the National Assembly should be looking for when it appoints persons to Chapter 9 institutions, which are independent of government on exactly the same terms as the judges are, with the single exception that they are accountable to the National Assembly. Our first choice therefore was Prof Vijay Chand, failing which, our second choice would have been Dr W Gumede. This was for the quality of their thinking and for their independentmindedness. Prof Vijay Chand, in particular, was head and shoulders above the other candidates.
The ANC, however, by majority seems to have stayed in its comfort zone by choosing Adv Ameermia, who is a declared ANC member. I would like to stress the fact that he is appropriate and very well qualified. He has a very good track record in upholding human rights. We do not doubt his devotion to human rights. We are just not sure who else he might be devoted to. It is because - and you have heard my colleague here today, the hon Marian Shinn - we simply have to choose the best.
We simply have to start making clear choices in favour of the best and the brightest and the clearly independentminded if we want our institutions to flourish. It is simply to make that point that the DA will object. I have done this in the past when we objected to Human Rights commissioners. I said then, and I will say now, that I look forward to working with Adv Ameermia. We will respect and uphold his Office. However, I say now and for the last time that we object because we think there were better candidates and that the quality of independentmindedness has to be pursued by the National Assembly. Thank you. [Applause.]