Thank you, Chairperson. Hon members, that concludes the business of the Joint Sitting.
Ndifuna ukuthatha eli thuba ndibulele amalungu ezi ziNdlu zombini ngokuxhasa le mini ibaluleke kangaka. Kwakhona, ndifuna ukubulela amakhosikazi amaninzi ahleli apha kule galari. Xa ndijonga macala onke, ndibona amakhosikazi ekudala erhuqa kulo mzabalazo, esenza igalelo, elenze ukuba sibe silapha kule ndawo sikuyo namhlanje.
Ndibulela nangakumbi uSodolophu kaMasipala weSithili saseO R Tambo, uMama uCapha, kunye negqiza lakhe. [Kwaqhwatywa.] Ndibulela amantombazanana amancinci athe esentlungwini, aqonda ukuba xa siwabizela kweyona Ndlu ibalulekileyo eMzantsi Afrika, apho imithetho yenziwa khona, maweze aze kumamela ukuba siza kuxoxa sithini na ngawo. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Ndiqinisekile, Sekela-Mongameli, ukuba namhlanje aza kulala exolile kuba intlungu yawo imanyelwe ngabona bantu bamele ukuba bayisombulule. Bendikhe ndanethuba lokuthetha nawo. Ngokuya bendiyiva ndikude le nto, ibingalumezi ngendlela endiyive ngayo ngexa bendihleli nabo.
Ndifuna ukungxengxeza, bantwana begazi sibaninzi apha, zinkosi zakwaNtu. Singamakhosikazi, sikhe sathetha ngale nto, ngalaa mini siyiva ngayo. Kwaba kho igama elithi: Njengokuba le nto ilisiko nje ke, noko singamakhosikazi asiyi kuyimamela nje, koko siya kuncedisa nangemali. Kutheni singathathi indawo yaba bantwana bancinci baminyaka ili-14 nje? Xa kufunwa amakhosikazi, akhona aqinileyo noko, angangathi. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Masibathathele, bethu! La madoda afuna abafazi maweze apha kuthi, ayeke aba bantwana bancinci. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the two Houses for supporting this very important day. I also want to thank a number of women who are sitting in the gallery. In this House I see female veterans of the struggle who contributed to where we are today.
I thank the mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality, Mrs Capha and her entourage, most. [Applause.] I thank the young girls who, even though they were in pain, decided to honour our invitation to this esteemed House in South Africa where laws are made, and to listen when we were discussing issues which affect them. [Applause.]
I am sure, Deputy President, that today they will sleep peacefully because their problem has been heeded by the relevant people, who will solve it. I had an opportunity to chat with them. It didn't sound as brutal when I heard it from a distance as when I was listening to them in person.
Let me tender an apology for not acknowledging the presence of the chiefs - the House is packed.
We talked about this matter as women when we heard about it. There was a resolution that even though it was culture, we would not only condemn it, but would also provide financial support. Why don't we substitute others for these 14-year-olds? If they, men, want wives, there are suitable women like us! [Applause.] Let us please substitute others for them. Men who want wives must come to us and leave these young children alone.]
Hon members, please note that the sitting of the National Assembly will commence in 10 minutes.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly adjourned the Joint Sitting at 16:10.