Deputy Chairperson, ...
Ke emela fela go leboga. [Im just standing up to say thank you.]
I sat smiling throughout the afternoon because if I had been in the ANC I would have called this an umrabulo [political education]. That is because I think so much has been said this afternoon that is very educative. It is a pity that the students are gone, but I am sure that in order to teach people, the researchers of the NCOP could write a very good book entitled Honouring our Heroes, using the members' speeches of today. I don't know if they could, but it would be a good thing to do because, as we proceed with the National Liberation Heritage Route, we are going to need these true stories of the history of our people and their lives of bravery and sacrifice.
I want to thank members, because we must never try to rewrite history. I think we must tell it as it is. [Interjections.] That it is very important, and I think to a large extent all members try to do that. We must write this history correctly, including the songs. [Interjections.] You know, this history of our people cannot be told by the courts; it must be told by us in assemblies such as this. It must be written down properly and it must never be banned. I think this is very important, and we are on the right journey; there are a many unsung heroes to be honoured.
As we go on with this task, we will go everywhere in the country to remember heroes, to remember the people who have fallen. We will also remember the Afrikaner women and children who died in concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War. We will remember them because they too were victims of the history of this country. We will go to the frontier wars, the wars of resistance, and the events of today, and write the history properly.
I think we have started on the right note. This umrabulo [political education] must be documented properly, including in the Western Cape. I would say there's a worry that the Western Cape might do something else! [Interjections.] However, from listening to the speakers I think we are moving together.
We will remember the kings of the Khoisan. We will remember everybody. As I said earlier, those on this journey, who walked this road before us, included kings, chiefs, warriors and revolutionaries. They were all on this long road that we have travelled.
So, hon members, I would like to thank you very much. As I said, this is not a once-off debate. This issue of honouring heroes is not a one-month thing; it is the beginning of a journey. That's what we are going to do. I said in the National Assembly that we would erect monuments in their honour. We will build museums that will tell their stories of bravery and sacrifice. The children and the generations to come must learn this history of honour, and I think that is what we must do.
I think hon Xasa said earlier that we should teach this history in the schools. Our children must be taught the correct history. So, hon members, you are writing that history. With your little speeches today you were doing exactly that. We thank you very much. I am sure that, if your researchers are not lazy, they will do what I have suggested and put a book together. If the NCOP does not have the money, my department will sponsor it. Thank you.
Debate concluded.