Madam Deputy Speaker, I move the draft resolution printed in my name on the Order Paper as follows:
That the House -
(1) notes with great sadness the news of the passing of Mrs Cheryl Gillwald on 27 July 2010 at the age of 53 from cancer;
(2) further notes that Gillwald was born in Welkom in the Free State on 13 December 1956, matriculated in 1974 at Roedean in Johannesburg and that, after one year at Washington High School in Wisconsin as an American Field Service exchange student, she completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of the Free State;
(3) recognises the community work she did in the township of Intabazwe as a young woman, that she also helped start the Fundisanani Community Trust which, among other things, built a centre for street children, and also organised winter schools where she lined up student teachers from the University of the Free State to help township matric students with their maths and science;
(4) further recognises that she joined the African National Congress when it was unbanned and in 1994 was called to Parliament to serve in the Senate and then the National Council of Provinces, which replaced it, and that she was appointed as Deputy Minister of Justice in 1999 and of Correctional Services in 2004; (5) remembers that Gillwald was extremely hardworking, efficient and conscientious and produced a regular and informative newsletter for her constituents in Intabazwe; and
(6) conveys its heartfelt condolences to her husband, son, family, friends and comrades in the African National Congress, the Women's League, the Alliance and the community of Intabazwe she served and loved.
Madam Deputy Speaker, we in the DA associate ourselves with the sentiments that are expressed in the motion that appears on the Order Paper.
The late Cheryl Gillwald and I became members of the Senate together in 1994. Those of us who were fortunate to be Senators will attest to the fact that it was a place in which close personal friendships developed despite political differences. The Deputy Minister of Basic Education, hon Musa Zondi, hon Bishop Tolo and many other people in this House and, indeed, people outside of this House - like Jackson Mtembu - were members of that club.
Cheryl Gillwald was a member of that club, and she and I shared many common interests. We were both social reformers. Our children were the same age, and we shared notes on the trials and tribulations of raising teenagers. We loved the breathtaking beauty of the Eastern Free State. Cheryl was a very passionate person, and I remember having intense arguments with her about how the legacies of apartheid could be most effectively overcome. We debated the role of the state, the responsibility of citizenship and the balance between them. We debated the distinction between reforming society and transforming society. Now, were these debates held in the hallowed precincts of the Senate? I regret to say, no. Rather, they were held in the members' bar over drinks and far too many cigarettes. Nevertheless, they cemented our relationship and our friendship.
In 1999, Cheryl was appointed as Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and in 2004 as Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, where we again had the opportunity to work closely together. Again, the debates raged on about how best to rehabilitate offenders and break the cycle of offending, about how to promote a system of alternative sentencing, to keep young offenders, in particular, out of prison, about how best to manage correctional centres so as to conform to the principles of the White Paper on Corrections. Again, the passion that Cheryl had for life and for fixing what is wrong came to the fore. But in the end, even she became dispirited, particularly at the high levels of corruption in that department and the seeming inability to overcome them.
So, when the opportunity arose to retire from politics, she took it and went to live abroad with her husband. But the spirit of her vitality, her vivaciousness and her passion will live forever in our memories. She died much too soon and much too young.
We extend our deepest sympathy to her husband, Charles Cousins, and to her son, Dane, as well as to her many friends in the ANC. Rest in peace. [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, let me, on behalf of Cope, take this opportunity to join the members of the governing party and the family and friends of the late Cheryl Gillwald in mourning the passing of one of the struggle's stalwarts.
The late Cheryl Gillwald was a very brave woman indeed. All who knew her would freely attest to this. Sadly, she died at the very young age of 53. Even so, she led a distinguished life and has left behind an enduring legacy, as I shall point out. She was a member of this august House from 1994 to 2006. From 1999 to 2004 she served as a Deputy Minister, first in Justice and then in Correctional Services.
What made her unique amongst politicians was the manner in which she kept her focus intact. She did not see herself above the people she served, and she did not seek to use power to shield politicians like herself. She was for the people and for the preservation of their rights and freedom. Everyone acknowledges her role in making the 16 Days of Activism campaign on No Violence against Women and Children, in partnership with civil society, the great success that it was. Even more telling was her strongly held view, expressed in 2005, that there was a strong case to scrap the criminal records of young offenders under the age of 30, so that they did not have to battle the stigma of a criminal record when trying to find work after being released from prison. She dared to say what other politicians would not even have dared to think.
The late Cheryl Gillwald also campaigned vigorously for real change in the lives of women. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007, which was passed a year after she left Parliament, will remain part of her legacy.
Our admiration for her comes from the strength of commitment to constitutionality. She held the belief that the independence of the judiciary is a principle most of us would die for. It is a very important component of a proper justice system but yes, I do believe that we need to be very careful about the way we protect victims.
Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to quote the following statement by her:
I keep thinking if we can get our boy children to think it very cool to be men of peace, to be men that accord dignity to all persons, particularly vulnerable people, then that would be our success story.
She lived and worked for a dream, for constitutionality, for peace and for justice. She is gone from amongst us, but let us step into the breach. Let all who valued her as a colleague remain true to her ideals, especially now as dark clouds gather on the horizon to threaten the freedom for which she, and all those who were in the trenches, fought and sacrificed their lives.
We extend our deepest condolences to the ruling party and to her friends and family. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, the IFP joins the DA and Cope, and all other members, in expressing its condolences to the bereaved family and friends of our dear former colleague Cheryl Gillwald. As a member of the justice committee, I had the privilege of working alongside her in Parliament for some years.
I vividly remember Cheryl as a charming person whose doors were always open to her colleagues. She had a beautiful smile and a warm personality. The tragedy is that she can no longer continue making the contributions she offered in respect of development, human rights and the ongoing struggle for social justice, and the eradication of poverty.
However, as we mourn her passing, we must also remember with gratitude the achievements she did attain within the time allotted to her. We remember Mrs Gillwald as playing a leading role in the mission to create a human rights culture in South Africa. We remember her for the work she did to improve the lives of ordinary South Africans. We remember her passion for the rights of women and children. We remember her contribution to governance and development. Throughout her political career, Mrs Gillwald displayed an outstanding work ethic, and we were impressed by her skills and leadership capacities.
Death is a particularly difficult, but totally unavoidable, bridge to cross, and we all have to face that final moment. I, myself, sometimes feel so unprepared for death, as death could take any of us at any time. The lesson we are to take to heart today is that we should all meditate more about our own approaching final moments.
May Cheryl rest in peace.
Deputy Speaker and hon members, we gather here today to pay tribute to the late Cheryl Gillwald. On behalf of the UDM, allow me to express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of bereavement. The late Mrs Gillwald had a long and illustrious career with a list of achievements that far outweigh the number of years she was among us. I was privileged to work with her in her capacity as Deputy Minister. She was a really dedicated politician.
Of all her achievements, we will best remember her for her unrelenting battle against gender-based violence. It is poignant that we should be bidding her farewell so soon after national Women's Day. She conceived of the No Violence Against Women and Children campaign when other senior members of government were prone to dismissing the severity of rape and domestic violence. In so doing she demonstrated not only vision and wisdom, but also the courage to speak up. Her passion for this important cause never wavered, and thus the campaign has become an annual event.
To her family, we can say without hesitation that she was a democrat and a nation-builder, and her legacy will live on. Perhaps it is far more difficult to be a hero in a time of peace - she certainly proved herself a heroine to every abused woman. We hope that you can take some measure of consolation in that.
We believe that she has sown the seeds of liberty with her dedication to gender equality and that, in the years to come, ten thousand Cheryls will blossom to stand up against those who abuse women. I thank you.
Adjunkspeaker, dit is goeie gebruik en dit is gepas dat ons in die Parlement van tyd tot tyd die geleentheid gebruik om hulde te bring aan kollegas wat afgesterf het. Ons doen dit ook vandag. Kollegas wat voor my gepraat het, het reeds verwys na die politieke hoogtepunte uit ons kollega se lewe, en dit word ook volledig vervat in die mosie wat op die oomblik voor die Huis dien.
Soos u weet, het Cheryl Gillwald van 1994 af, vir 12 jaar lank, tot 2006 in die Parlement gedien. Twee tydperke daarvan was as Adjunkminister, eers van Justisie, en later van Korrektiewe Dienste, waar sy bydraes gemaak het. In 2006 het sy uitgetree en waarskynlik gedink en gehoop dat sy 'n rustige aftrede saam met haar man gaan h waar hulle hulself in die buiteland gevestig het.
In Januarie van hierdie jaar, 'n paar maande gelede, is sy gediagnoseer met kanker, en is oorlede - baie vroeg, op 'n baie vroe leeftyd. Waar hierdie mosie vir ons waarskynlik vandag vertel van haar politieke wreld en haar politieke lewe, vertel dit ons nie van haar persoonlike lewe, haar persoonlike gesinsomstandighede en haar gesin wat agterbly nie.
Namens die VF Plus wil ek graag ons opregte meelewing betuig met haar naasbestaandes, haar party en kollegas. Baie dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Deputy Speaker, it is good practice and fitting that we in Parliament, from time to time, make use of the opportunity to pay tribute to colleagues who have passed away. We are also doing so today. Colleagues who have spoken before me have already referred to highlights from our colleague's life, and this has also been comprehensively included in the motion that is before the House at this very moment.
As you know, Cheryl Gillwald served in this Parliament for 12 years, from 1994 to 2006. For two periods she was a Deputy Minister, first of Justice and Constitutional Development and later of Correctional Services, where she made many contributions. In 2006 she retired and probably thought and hoped that she could look forward to a peaceful retirement with her husband after they settled down abroad.
In January this year, a few months ago, she was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away very early, at a very young age. Whereas this motion probably tells us about her political world and her political life, it does not tell us about her personal life, her personal family situation and her family who remain behind.
On behalf of the Freedom Front Plus I would like to convey our sincere sympathies to her relatives, her party and colleagues. Thank you very much.]
Madame Deputy Speaker, the ACDP wishes to join the other parties in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Cheryl Gillwald today. It is clear from the tributes that Cheryl was devoted to her country and her fellow men and women. It is particularly regrettable that Cheryl passed away in her early 50s. I was shocked to learn that she died of cancer at the end of July at a very young age.
I had the honour of getting to know Cheryl when I served on the Justice and Constitutional Development and the Correctional Services portfolio committees when she was the Deputy Minister. She was firm and resolute in her attempts to bring about order to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Correctional Services at a time when the Jali Commission of Inquiry had issued a scathing report on the department.
But she was also very gracious in responding to my parliamentary questions on both departments. She was very unassuming as well. I remember seeing her at the airport one day awaiting a family member, alone, with no entourage, and it was wonderful to engage her on an informal basis.
The ACDP acknowledges the major contribution she has made, both as a Deputy Minister and through her efforts to improve the lives of women and children. She has been credited with being responsible for the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children. I looked up her speech on 16 November 2005 when she launched her campaign. She stated:
We need to unify across race, class and gender, across political, urban and rural divide to fight the scourge of violence against women and children.
It is significant that she already, at that stage, challenged us to turn the event into a 365-day event.
That is why words of condolences and comfort to her family and friends today are necessary. I have no doubt that she would have preferred that we as MPs rise to a challenge of fighting violence against women and children, not only for 16 days, but for the full 365 days of the year. Let us do that in her remembrance, particularly as we embark on Women's Month this week. Our prayers and thoughts are with her family and friends during this time of mourning. I thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the UCDP would like to pass its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Cheryl Gillwald. Her contribution to this democracy will always be missed. Her death comes during the month of women, indicating a great loss to South Africa. The country is once more robbed of a most dedicated, hardworking daughter of the soil. We shall miss her contribution to the development of our country.
Re le ba lekoko la UCDP ra re a ba lelapa, ditsala le badiri ka ene ba tshidisege. [As the UCDP we would like to convey our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues.]
I thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, hon members and the family of the late Comrade Gillwald, the death of Ms Gillwald came as a shock to some of us, especially because we had not heard about her illness. She was still so young and had the potential to make further valuable contributions to our society.
She was an accomplished patriot whose work and track record shine for all to see. Her work caught the public eye during her term as the Deputy Minister of both the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Correctional Services. Her dedication to serve our country, especially women, shone through in her work.
This was particularly prominent in her illustrious leadership of the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. She gave the campaign the prominence it deserved and gave her all to create awareness in the public consciousness. Azapo salutes this gallant daughter of the soil and expresses its condolences to her family and her political organisation, the ANC. May her soul rest in peace. Thank you.
Motlatsammusakgotla, Maloko a Palamente a a tlotlegang, balosika ba ba fano, ke le dumedisa botlhe. Ke le tsholetse mantswe a a mmalwanyana a kgomotso. A re gopoleng mogaka ono ka tsotlhe tse a di dirileng fa a ntse a tshela. A re mo gopoleng ka lerato le a neng a na le lona mo baaging ba Aforika Borwa. Re ntse gape re gopola ka nako e a neng a le ditlhabing ka ntlha ya bolwetse ba kankere; re mo lebile a sotlega, a re tlhomola pelo. A re mo leseng a ikhutse botlhoko ba a neng a le mo go bona.
Re ne re le letlhogonolo go nathogana le ena botshelo jwa gagwe le losika lwa gagwe. Ka nako e e bokeke e, ba ba neng ba le gaufi le ena thata, re tlhoka go itshepela mowa o o galelelang o re neng ra o tlogelelwa ke Morena Jesu fa a tlhatlhogela legodimong. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[Ms N P KHUNOU: Deputy Speaker, hon Members of Parliament, family members present, I greet you all. I have few words of condolences for you. Let us remember this heroine for all she has done. Let us remember her for the love she had for the citizens of South Africa. Let us not forget the time she was in pain as a result of cancer. We watched her suffer, we pitied her. Let her rest and be relieved from the pain.
We are fortunate to have shared her life together with her family. During these trying times, we need to trust in the Holy Spirit that was left by Jesus Christ when He ascended to heaven.] Comrade Gillwald was born in Welkom in the Free State on 13 December 1956. She matriculated in 1974 at Roedean High School in Johannesburg. Thereafter she became an American Field Service exchange student for a year at Washington High School in Wisconsin.
She completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of the Free State. Comrade Gillwald was a community worker and did a lot of work in Intabazwe township as a young woman. She also helped to start the Fundisanani Community Trust which, amongst other things, built a centre for street children. She organised winter schools with the help of student- teachers, and through her interaction with the University of the Free State, she employed student-teachers to help township matric students with mathematics and physical science.
Comrade Gillwald was a member of the ANC. In 1994 she was deployed to serve in the then Senate, which is now called the National Council of Provinces. She became the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development in 1999 and thereafter the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services in 2004. She became instrumental in improving the lives of women in prison and, as we heard from all members who spoke here, she was always fighting for gender equality and against violence against women and children. She retired from an active political career to pursue her studies and to play a more active role in her family.
She will always be remembered for being a hard worker. Wherever she was deployed, she really devoted her time and made a significant difference. She was committed to transformation, and the significance was seen in both departments she served in. She was efficient in creating a political and public awareness in her constituency in Intabazwe by producing a regular and informative newsletter.
We express our heartfelt condolences to her husband, son, family, friends and comrades in the African National Congress, Women's League, the alliance and the community of Intabazwe that she served and loved. May her soul rest in peace. I thank you.
That concludes the speakers' list on this matter. I take it there are no objections to the motion being adopted. The presiding officers associate themselves with the motion. The condolences of the House will be conveyed to the Gillwald family, her organisation the ANC, the ANC Women's League, alliance partners and the community of Intabazwe. Thank you, hon members.
Motion agreed to.