Mhlonishwa Somlomo, namhlanje sifuna ukukhuluma isiBhunu. [Hon Speaker, we want to speak Afrikaans today.]
Meneer die Speaker, armoede is 'n verskynsel wat nie kleur ken nie. Ek wil met die agb adjunkpresident saamstem. Hy ken nie kleur nie. Ons is almal arm of ryk. Ek wil ook met dr Mulder saamstem, dat daar iets aan wit armoede gedoen moet word. Terwyl ons vandag oor wit armoede praat, kom ons bespreek dit deeglik. Ons praat baie keer oor armoede oor die algemeen, maar om te dink dat daar 'n 150% groei in Afrikaner armoede die afgelope klompie jare was en dat daar omtrent 600 000 arm blankes is skokkend. Ek wil ook s dat daar rondom Pretoria 77 plakkerskampe is en landswyd is daar 470 blanke plakkerskampe.
As 'n mens daarna kyk, mnr die Speaker, dan het jy pyn in jou hart oor hierdie armoede. Daarom doen ons 'n beroep op die regering om ook te kyk na wit armoede.
Ek wil afsluit deur te s ons bring hulde aan die vakunie Solidariteit, wat 'n spesiale afdeling, die Helpende Hand, het. Hulle reik die hand uit na wit armoede toe, onder andere, en hulle verdien ons groot dank en waardering vir die goeie werk wat hulle doen om armoede te bestry. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr Speaker, poverty is a phenomenon that doesn't know colour. I want to concur with the hon Deputy President. It doesn't know colour. We are all rich or poor. I also want to agree with Dr Mulder that something should be done about white poverty. While we are talking about white poverty, let us discuss it properly. We often talk about poverty in general, but to think that there has been an increase of over 150% in Afrikaner poverty over the past few years, and that there are about 600 000 poor whites, is shocking. I also want to add that there are 77 squatter camps around Pretoria and countrywide there are 470 white squatter camps.
Looking at it, Mr Speaker, one feels pain in one's heart about this poverty. That is why we are appealing to the government to take a look at white poverty as well.
I want to conclude by saying that we pay tribute to the trade union Solidarity, which has a special section called the Helping Hand. Their hand has been reaching out to white poverty, among others, and they deserve our thanks and appreciation for the good work that is being done by them in combating poverty.]