Chairperson, the passing of the Natives Land Act was and still is the epitome of cruelty, ridiculousness and evil intent of the crafters of the apartheid policy. Reserving 7% of agricultural land for a 67% black population was just ridiculous, yet it was passed in Parliament, presumably in a House like this, albeit "only white". Could it be that none of those who debated this piece of legislation then saw it for the evil that it was?
Could it be that the voice of reason was so faint that it became a whisper amongst nationalists who were hellbent on ensuring the perpetual slavery of the black? It is so obvious that there always exists a possibility that the majority is not always right. Although the nationalists were not the majority in the broader scheme of things, in Parliament they were, which was ensured by colonialism and apartheid together.
With the possibility of being led astray by the majority, we really need to take our responsibility as parliamentarians seriously. We need to accept that the laws we allow to be passed in this House are not just for now, but have the potential to determine the future for generations to come. We owe it to our grandchildren to be diligent and truthful in exercising our duties. We owe it to our grandchildren to handle these responsibilities with integrity.
Now, in 2013, we need not pretend that we are a happy rainbow nation; we are not, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. We don't even have to pretend in this House, but we need to be sensitive to our historical backgrounds and acknowledge them as such. Those who were privileged by the pieces of legislation such as the Natives Land Act need to accept that their opinions are influenced by such privileges. Similarly, it is absolutely pointless to sit here and bicker about the past without necessarily addressing the issues and ensuring that the atrocities of the past never again befall our country.
We need to stop defending such ridiculous legislation as that which we are debating. I say defending, because when anyone tries to contest the dispossession, they are in fact defending those atrocities. We also need to stop moaning and get on with the programme of ensuring the equal distribution of land. Thank you. [Applause.]