Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members of the House and ladies and gentlemen, I am not sure whether you know that there are people who do not die. While death is a common denominator, there are two kinds of people. The first kind is born, they eat, they grow up and they create problems. No one remembers them. The others, like Michael Coetzee - by the way he is my namesake - was not one of the above. He was born, he ate, grew up and served humanity by providing solutions. He had the correct self-knowledge to serve humanity. He was a real servant.
I engaged with him for only two days, but I learnt a lot from him. We had an appointment to meet the following day, but he was no more. However, as I have said, he is still alive. He had love. It is said that service is love made visible and, indeed, he manifested that.
Hi Xitsonga hi ri: "Mitirho ya vulavula". Mitirho ya Michael Coetzee ya vulavula naswona yi ta ya emahlweni yi vulavula. [In Tsonga we say: "Actions speak louder than words." Michael Coetzee's actions speak and will continue to speak.]
Someone said: "Whoever knows the all and possesses the all, but fails to serve humanity lacks everything." Michael Coetzee was not one of them.
Our deepest condolences go to Mr Coetzee's family. May he rest in peace. We know that he lives on. Thank you. [Applause.]