Mr Speaker, hon Deputy President, hon members and the family of the late Mrs Matladi, we were saddened by the news of the untimely death of our colleague, sister and friend. I use the term "untimely", conscious of and painfully aware of the fact that it is God who knows the time, because for us there can never be a right time for our loved ones to pass on. We had heard that she had not been well, but had hoped that she would recover and come back to continue with the work that she loved: that of serving her party and the nation.
I had known Mrs Matladi as a strong, hardworking person and a determined leader. The passing away of Mrs Matladi is a loss to the country and the continent and represents a setback in the struggle for the emancipation and empowerment of women. On behalf of Azapo, I convey our sincere condolences to the Matladi family, her friends and her party, the UCDP. May her soul rest in peace. Thank you, Mr Speaker. [Applause.]