Hon Speaker, hon President and Deputy President, and members of the House, it is appropriate that we should join millions of people at home and abroad at this time to reflect on the condition of the father of our nation and hope and pray that he makes a speedy recovery. As the leader of our struggle and the architect of our democracy, Madiba bridged the chasms that divided us, he forged the Constitution that freed and united us, he created the moral compass that guided all of us and he bred the hope that inspires to this day. In his suffering, therefore, we walk around stoically, hoping that our prayers will be answered and that he recovers.
In a world where political expediency rules, he held a divided nation together through integrity, clarity of vision and adherence to the rule of law. He placed total store by our Constitution, which he led in shaping in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, Codesa, process. He sought to infuse the rights it guaranteed into every walk of life. We shall forever be grateful for the foundations he helped to lay.
Turning to Vote No 1, the Cope cannot give support to this Vote ... [Interjections.]