Speaker, the UDM condemns in the strongest possible terms the current disruption of matric examinations across the country. It must be noted that these illegal, irresponsible and violent disruptions are orchestrated by an organisation that is aligned to the ruling party.
Once more we have ANC alliance partners disrupting a school programme that has suffered this year from a protracted violent strike by teachers. It is especially frustrating that the nonsensical and unreasonable demands are supposedly being made out of a concern for this year's matrics, whereas, in actual fact, these hypocrites are further undermining learners who are already at a disadvantage.
The ANC's inability to keep its alliance partners from trashing the country makes a mockery of the so-called mass democratic movement. There is nothing democratic or constitutional about the violence ...
Speaker, on a point of order: The Congress of South African Students, Cosas, is not an ally of the ANC.
Hon member, please take your seat. [Laughter.] Hon members, order! Hon members, I want to say this and I don't want to repeat it again: The Chair does not get involved in points of information or points of debate.
If members want to disagree or agree, they may use their time slot or the time slot of their party to do so, but they should not use the floor to make points of no consequence. Continue, hon member. [Interjections.] Hon members, order!
Thank you, Speaker. There is nothing democratic or constitutional about the violence and coercion that accompanies this tripartite alliance-fuelled protests. The person who styles himself or herself as a leader, but then goes into a school and prevents a matric learner from writing an exam, is nothing but a criminal and a thug.
Whenever we have debates in this House about the youth, everybody, including the ANC, professes great concern for the youth. But where is the state now to protect the youth from these criminals and thugs who are stealing their education? Thank you.