Speaker, 5 December 2013 will be remembered for centuries to come, as this day the world stood still. It did so because a giant amongst us had fallen. Tata Madiba was more than just our beloved country's heart. He was our collective soul. For each and every one of us, he provided the hope that tomorrow would be better, and for each and every one of us, he was our beacon, a guiding light towards the good and just. He bound us together in all our diversity, helped us through the pain that so many of us suffered for centuries before him. For this, I will always be grateful. Thank you, Tata Madiba.

Mr Speaker, my daughter Agatha was born on 14 April 1994. She was only 13 days old on the day South Africa held its first democratic election. For the first time in her life, she will be voting next year. When comforting her after paying her last respects to Madiba at a place of tribute, she wrote:

He did not even know us, but he worked to set us free. To an amazing man who set this world right, rest in peace, Nelson Mandela.

As a father and as a public representative, I ask myself what I will do to forward this legacy. The answer is in everything. Tata did it for us. He taught us that we must treat our children as our greatest commodity and do everything possible to provide them with the opportunities in life to succeed.

That is why he was the champion of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, an icon whose Nobel Prize resulted in a gift for charity. He taught us that our future will be better and brighter if we work together, hand in hand. We must never forget that reconciliation relies on you and me to make it work, so that we can achieve a truly nonracial society. He taught us that we must respond with love and forgiveness to those who hate and wish to do wrong in our society. Indeed, Madiba understood everyone and represented the best in humankind. He saw human beings as human beings, created equally, and never judged people on the basis of the colour of their skin. Despite all the fame and worldwide respect, power never made Madiba corrupt. Instead, after just one term as president, he stepped down. That is the role model that every one of us in this room should be proud of.

Whilst it is true that he is no longer with us today, his legacy lives on, and it is up to every South African to protect it, foster it, and make sure that every South African is able to experience the fruits of his efforts. Fellow members, let us celebrate his life and honour his global legacy in everything we do and everything we say. Every day should be a "Madiba Day".

I would like to end with my favourite from Tata, as a reminder to every member in this House and every South African watching on television today that our work is not done and that we must now ensure that we realise the vision that Mandela provided to us:

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

Hamba kahle, to the son of the soil. Long live Nelson Mandela, long live! Amandla! [Applause.]