Hon Speaker, during the local government elections the DA went all out to portray an image of a multiracial party with the black faces of Patricia de Lille and Lindiwe Mazibuko being paraded when Madam Helen Zille was canvassing. But, again, the DA has been exposed for their double standards and hypocrisy. The ink on the ballot paper is barely dry and they have gone back to their old ways. Helen Zille has become synonymous with employing any white person for the job instead of the best person for the job, irrespective of race and gender. [Interjections.]
The DA has yet again applied the white-only rule by appointing an all-white team of executive directors to run its day-to-day affairs at its head office, showing South Africa exactly what they think of transformation and the capabilities of black people in general. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members!
We are good enough during elections, but not good enough to work for them. [Interjections.]
Why are you lying?
The picture looks the same at the provincial level, with most of the directors being white. How can we forget the predominantly white, male Cabinet that has been forced down the throats of the Western Cape community? However, this does not ...
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: Sir, you have personally ruled in this House before that generally Motions or Statements or Declarations of this nature, which are deeply divisive, are not in the best interest of this particular House. [Interjections.] I urge you to consider the ruling that you made and make this member realise that what he is saying is out of order.
Order, hon members! Let the speaker be heard. Continue, hon member.
Sir, do you want me to repeat the whole thing?
No, don't repeat. Just say what you have not said before.
The point is that you personally have said that statements of a deeply divisive nature are not in the best interest of this House. What this particular member is saying now in his statement is deeply divisive. In fact, it borders on racism. I urge you to rule against him for making this particular statement.
Hon member, I really plead with the House and ask that we really, really desist from making such statements. But please complete the two seconds you have left.
The only divisive people in this House are the DA. However, to us this does not come as a surprise, given the anti- transformation and at times racially divisive posture the party has taken since 1994.
Hon member, your time has expired. Statements should not exceed one minute and yours has exceeded that.
Mr Speaker, there is another point of order, and it's not just the question of one-and-a-half minutes per statement. I urge you to rule at some stage on the quality of what this man has been saying. I believe that in terms of your own ruling what he has been saying now is unparliamentary.
I will come to the ruling on that matter. Hon member, what's your point?
Speaker, I rise on a point of order: I'm not "this man"; I am an hon member. My status is equal to that of the speaker, the hon member. He cannot just refer to me as "this man". He must withdraw that. [Interjections.]
Hon Ellis, you also know the Rules.
I meant to refer to him as "the hon member this man". You are quite right, sir, I'm sorry. [Interjections.]
I am not "the hon this man".
No, refer to him properly, and not as "the hon this man".
He wouldn't like it if I referred to him as "the hon this old man"! [Laughter.]
Order! Hon member, give me a chance to speak.
Hon Speaker, I rise on a point of order: We don't make the Rules as we go. We make rules for the decorum of the House. If the hon member was using unparliamentary language, he would have been ruled out of order.
Hon member, I said I'm going to come back with a ruling on that. I don't want to open a debate on this matter. I will give the ruling, not you. [Laughter.] [Applause.]