Hon Deputy Speaker, the challenges facing the Medupi Power Station cannot narrowly be attributed to labour. I personally intervened and brought all the parties to the dispute during the earlier labour strikes to the table and we got an agreement. When I visited Medupi earlier this year, all the parties at Medupi made a commitment that they would work hard to recover the time lost during the prolonged strike. This included having a two-day shift, working for 7 days a week, and ensuring that they bring on board additional labour in order to cover any time that had been lost during the strike.
Recently a partnership agreement was signed involving both Medupi and Kusile power stations, signed by the unions, the contractors and Eskom. The recent protests, including today's, have all been resolved peacefully and within agreed parameters. I still insist that should another delay become inevitable, we will take tough action against anyone or any party found responsible. Medupi and the challenges that it is facing have been dealt with in a very transparent manner. I am confident that the actions that we are taking will yield the desired results.
About the DA councillor that has been suspended, the question is not really whether this councillor has been suspended or not, but it is: Why does a member who holds such backward views belong to a party that claims to have fought against racism? The answer is very clear. Racism and backwardness are inherent in the DA no matter how much they can try to airbrush these or reinvent themselves through lies and deceit. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Members in the gallery, I really appeal to you. There are security personnel somewhere out there. Please do not force me to ask them to take you out if you participate.