Hon members, before we continue with the Votes, I want to continue with what the Speaker started - giving rulings.
During Parliament's Budget Vote on 11 June, the hon Chief Whip of the Opposition rose on a point of order about a statement that he attributed to hon Jeffery. According to hon Watson, the hon Jeffery cast aspersions on the personality of the Leader of the Opposition. I undertook to study Hansard and return with a ruling. Now having studied the Hansard, I wish to rule as follows.
During his speech, hon Jeffery made the following remarks:
It also brings me to the issue that is in our Constitution. The Leader of the Opposition is meant to be the leader of the party; is meant to be a person of some stature. The hon Mazibuko may be a person of some weight, but is she a person of some stature? The part of the statement that relates to the hon Mazibuko's weight appears, on the face of it, to be a reference to her physical appearance. [Interjections.]
Members will remember that, in the past, many rulings were made on remarks regarding members' physical appearance. This has always been found to be insensitive, offensive and a violation of a member's dignity. I have no intention of departing from this precedence. Accordingly, I find that remark not only insensitive, but also unparliamentary.
It is indeed the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that we exercise the right to freedom of speech in a considerate and responsible manner. I now wish to call upon hon Jeffery to withdraw his statement.