Deputy Speaker, once again, the people have shown their support for the party which they believe will deliver a better life for them, and once again they rejected the DA. The ANC won by-elections in Wards 6 and 18 in Tlokwe in the North West province yesterday. [Interjections.]
In an apparent attempt to save face, the DA once again shows its arrogance and disrespect for the poorest of the poor by claiming unjustly that the ANC bought votes by distributing food parcels. [Interjections.] By believing that our people have so little respect for themselves that they can be bought with food parcels, shows the extent to which the DA is out of touch with the many citizens of our country. By insinuating that our people lack the capacity to distinguish between a party which advocates for the poor and marginalised in this country and the one which argues for an open opportunity society to ensure that the elite retain their privileges, the DA exposes their misguided thinking.
It has also come to light that last night onlookers saw three DA members - and may I add that they were heavily armed - two males and a female, allegedly handing out stacks of cash to the independent candidate of Ward 26, Mr Stone Mahlabe, for winning the ward for them. The very people you paid used violence and intimidation, grabbed ANC T-shirts from old, defenceless people.
There was no effort to conceal the handover, and we will ensure that this is investigated. If it is proven that Mr Stone Mahlabe sold out his supporters to the DA, who obviously ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]