Hon Chairperson, I was thinking, when I was asked to do it on behalf of the ANC, whether I should start, hon Meshoe, by saying the "hon K J R Meshoe", and then continue to say the "hon K J R Meshoe", as he was addressed some time back by a President in this House.
Members, Rev K R J Meshoe - Kenneth Raselabe Joseph Meshoe - was born in Pretoria and is the fourth of seven children. In 1972, he matriculated. In 1975, he graduated from the University of the North with a Secondary Teachers Diploma. In 1976, he married his wife, Lydia, and they have three children. In January 1987, Rev Meshoe went to Kingsport, Tennessee, in the United States, where he did his Secondary Theological Diploma. On 18 December 1994, Rev Meshoe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Bethel Christian College of Riverside, California, in the United States of America.
He launched the ADCP in 1993, and he became its first president and has remained this to date. Hon Meshoe served as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Police, and he was a very committed member of that committee during all his time, this despite the fact that he was leading a party, an example to many other leaders of political parties in this House. Never did he miss oversight visits, even if he could not stay for the full visit. Often he would travel long kilometres back home or to his appointments by road. His input was valued. Even if we did not always agree, you knew that you should listen, because what he said was of value.
Hon Meshoe was there and he led us in prayer when we visited families of police officers who had died in the line of duty. When there was tension in the committee, you could always rely on him and the hon Ndlovu to defuse the situation.
We are saying goodbye because, as is clear from his plans, he is not planning this as a farewell. We know that we will meet again, if not here, along the roads that life leads us. My wish for you, on behalf of the ANC, is "fly you high, run like the river". In the words of Lord George Gordon Byron: Fare thee well! and if for ever, Still for ever, fare thee well.
[Applause.]