Chairperson, on behalf of the DA and myself personally, I wish to extend our condolences to the family of Ms Florence Nyanda, affectionately known to me as "Flo" and to some of her friends and colleagues as "Ma".
Florence Nyanda passed away on Saturday, 5 May, in her home in the province of Mpumalanga after battling a long illness accompanied by much pain. She first became an ANC Member of Parliament in 2004 and served on various committees within the NCOP. I had the privilege of being on one with her. She then went on to the NA. Hamba kahle, Florence Nyanda, hamba kahle! [Go well!] We will miss you.
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sihlalo, abahlonishwa abakhona phakathi kwethu, egameni leNkatha yeNkululeko, sizwakalisa ukudabuka eqenjini elibusayo ngokulahlekelwa ngabantu ebelibabeke ezikhundleni ezehlukene zikahulumeni.
Ukuhamba kukaNgqongqoshe uRoy - njengomuntu odabuka kulesiya sifundazwe engizalelwe kusona - kwasishaqisa sonke uma sizwa ukuthi udlule emhlabeni ehambe ngomsebenzi. Kanjalo nokuhamba kukadadewethu uFlorence, njengeLungu lePhalamende kumbe leNdlu yesiShayamthetho kaZwelonke, nakho kuyizindaba ezingabanga mnandi uma sizizwa ngoba bonke laba bantu benze umnikelo obonakalayo ezweni lethu. Basebenza emakomidini ePhalamende ahlukene kwazekwaba sekupheleni kwezinsuku zabo.
Eqenjini elibusayo nasemindenini yabo, siyanikhalela ngokudabuka ukuthi nilahlekelwe ngabantu esingakaze sizwe chashaza ngabo ekuphatheni kwabo umsebenzi kahulumeni. Abantu abanjengalabo-ke, abazinikele ezindabeni zabantu - yibona bantu esiye sidinge ukuthi baphile isikhathi eside - ukuze basize abantu ngoba njengoba nonke nilapha nithunyelwe amaqembu enu ukuze nikwazi ukusiza abantu abahluphekayo kuleli laseNingizimu Afrika. Sengathi bangaba zinyanya ezinhle, babe ngamadlozi amahle, baphendule imiqondo yenu nonembeza benu ukuze nisebenzele izwe ngokwethembeka. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Chairperson and hon members who are present here, as the IFP we want to convey our sadness to the ruling party, which has lost people whom it seconded to different portfolios in government.
We were shocked when we heard that Minister Roy, who is from the province where I was born, had passed on while he was out of the country on official duty. The passing of our sister, hon Florence, a Member of Parliament and the NA, was also not good news because these people made a significant contribution to this country. They served on various parliamentary committees until the end of their days.
To the ruling party and the families of the deceased, we are mourning with you the loss of people from whom there never was any hint of corruption when they conducted their duties in government. We need people like them - people who are committed to the nation's wellbeing - to live longer to serve the people. All of us here are sent by our parties to come and serve the poor of South Africa. May they be good ancestors and may their ancestral spirits be good to you, so that they can transform your minds and consciences in order for you to serve the country faithfully. Thank you.]