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  • Home »
  • Hansard »
  • 2012 »
  • May »
  • 23 »
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (Wednesday, 23 May 2012) »
  • South African Police Service Amendment Bill (Second Reading Debate)
  • Picture of Annelizé van Wyk
    Ms A Van Wyk 23 May 2012 hansard

    I am not going to take a question! You are wasting my time. The problem is, as Abraham Miller said:

    Ten gods cannot change the opinion of one fool, especially if another fool agrees with him.

    [Laughter.] [Applause.]

    Firstly, on the issue of public perception, public perception will be determined by the success of the Hawks. May I also state to the hon Kohler- Barnard that it was not the Minister who named the unit the Hawks; it was business that named them the Hawks.

    Secondly, public perceptions of independence will also best be determined by the success of the directorate - let their deeds speak for themselves. Therein lies the responsibility to improve their communications regarding their successes.

    Let me quote Sophocles in Antigone: The kind of man (or woman) who always thinks that he (or she) is right, that his (or her) opinions, his (or her) pronouncements, are the final word, when once exposed shows nothing there. But a wise man (or woman) has much to learn without a loss of dignity.

    [Interjections.] Your opinion is your opinion! [Interjections.] Your perception is your perception! [Interjections.] Do not confuse them with facts or truth. [Interjections.] Wars have been fought and millions of people have lost their lives because of the inability of men and women to understand the idea that everybody has different viewpoints.

    The last point that I want to raise is the fact that it is interesting that nobody raised the fact that in the Constitutional Court judgment a point was raised. In the minority judgment, which the majority judgment referred to as the main judgment, a point was raised where the minority judgment stated, "Luckily we were never asked to rule on the constitutionality of the Scorpions." The ANC will support this Bill. [Applause.]

    Link in context Link

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