Hon Deputy Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon Speaker on his dignified leadership in embracing multiparty democracy. Indeed, his conduct should be emulated by other chairpersons and Chief Whips.
In entrenching a proposal, documents are drawn up after a lengthy debate and criticism from political parties and committees. Therefore, one should not deliberately oppose policies for cheap point-scoring. The Chief Whip's office must not accept unjustified criticism.
We must applause the ANC for actually going out to formulate policies. [Applause.] We must not allow a situation where policies are not endorsed because of some mischief-makers. The way the route to democracy was frustrated in the past, we must not allow it to be frustrated in a state of democracy.
Let us be reminded of our former President Madiba - and to whom we also send our wishes - with whom we all so profoundly want to associate ourselves today. He committed his life to ensuring that we have the kind of Parliament that is here today. The best we can do is to stop being annoying and do something constructive for South Africa. [Applause.]
I have approached the Chief Whip's office on various issues and found his door to be open. There is no need to kick down the door, just knock and it will be opened. There is no need to be hard on people that do a good job. We cannot consistently raise polemical debates. If we were living in the apartheid era, we could understand that. However, that failed miserably.
In this stage of democracy we engage in parliamentary debates on democratic values and principles. The DA must realise that white minority rule came to an end 19 years ago. [Applause.]
There is an unacceptable tendency to disgrace Parliament when the world is looking to us for guidance. There are some individuals that reduce this Parliament to a comedy show on TV. [Laughter.] Acting Deputy Chief Whip, don't fall into the trap; you must be reminded who was responsible for building this Parliament ... [Interjections.]