I rise to this podium, Deputy Speaker, with deep disappointment that a few weeks ago we were celebrating the victory and possibilities of our country which the Springboks reminded all of us. They flied our flag the highest - yet our iron bird of the skies - which should be parading our flag at 30 000 feet high couldn't take off the ground.
However, Deputy Speaker, the IFF in calling for this debate of urgent national importance - was not to call a session of this assembly to simply grandstand and further bemoan the constant failures of a once successful airline.
We called for this debate, because like I said, we were reminded that together we can do better. That is what our policy as the IFP says and we are constructive. We also called this debate because South Africa warrants it.
Our people who elected us here warrant from us the actions required and robust debates to take place in this House so that we bring them the solutions that the government can implement.
Many have extensively diagnosed the rot and the cause for the failures; and more recently, some of the corrupt cronies have been allegedly been fingered in state capture.
To summarise the rot - it is the greed, corruption, flagrant abuse of public funds, the deliberate disregard
for our countries legislation, incompetent cadre deployment and compromised and unethical leadership.
In terms of those who were fingered in the state capture, we cannot pronounce ourselves on that as yet, but we can certainly say that the government has let us down and have spectacularly failed to bring the change to the SA Air Ways, SAA.
The IFP has long held that SAA's reliance on state resources should be limited and phased out into a more sustainable cost model through a public- private partnership agreement in order for it to become globally competitive, drive down costs and to restore service excellence.
Already South Africans and in particular SAA workers are frustrated, their constant frustration will turn into anger.
We have seen what fire and fury feels like when flights were grounded and when operations came to a standstill. You must never, hon Deputy Speaker, deceive ourselves and
think that the fact that workers have gone back to work that is the end of SAA's problem.
This moment even though it may seem all doom and gloom, it is perhaps exactly the breaking point we needed. It is the Rubicon moment of the SAA.
This moment certainly presents us with an opportunity to knuckle down and present solutions and save our airline carrying our country's flag from flying into flames.
Hon Deputy Speaker, let us be reasonable here. We know that change does not come or does not happen by the click of a finger.
The SAA's mandate and how it benefits each and every South African and how it benefits our economy and how it makes us the gateway to Africa again is what we need to be debating about at this House today.
South Africans don't appreciate the fighting and the noise. They want solutions and plans to be met with
political will, justice and strong actions over tough talk and many barks with no bite.
Just as we rose in saying we are stronger when united - let us use this moment, SAA's Rubicon moment to stand together in implementing a strong plan which will see the SAA take off.
We are looking forward to hearing constructive members engaging on this matter and ...
IsiZulu:
... ngiyakholelwa, Sekela Somlomo, ukuthi njengoba leNdlu namhlanje iphikisene nokuqashwa komunye ongafanele ukuba ubengaqashwa nomholi onogcobho ekutheni ahole i- public ... umnyango lo njengokhomishana ...
English:
... will do the same in addressing all our matters that are confronting us because now is time ...
IsiZulu:
... la kufanele ukuba sonke sibumbane siqhamuke nezixazululo kuzo zonke izinkinga esibhekene nazo njengezwe. Iqiniso lithi, izwe lethu selidinga ubuholi obuqotho. Kudinga ukuthi amaphutha esiwenzile ngaso sonke isikhathi esingemuva ikakhulukazi eqenjini elibusayo, siyibuke, sikwazi ukuwalungisa ...
English:
... for the sake of our country and for the sake of future generations ...
IsiZulu:
... esikholwa ukuthi sonke lapha sizimele ngoba asikwazi ukusebenzisa izimali zabantu ngezikhathi zonke ukuze zikhiphe otakwini u-SA-Airways, SAA, nazo zonke izinkampani eziphethwe uHulumeni ngaphandle kokuthi enze lokhu okufanele afeze imigomo nemiyalo yazo.
Siyacela-ke ukuthi iNdlu yonke ibambe iqhaza kule nkulumo mpikiswano ukuze sifikelele ezixazululweni, lezo ezidingwa yizwe futhi siyakholwa ukuthi abantu bakithi uma betatha isinyathelo sokuya emgwaqeni yingoba kunesikhathi eside izimfuno zabo singalekelelwa futhi
zingezwakali zingalalelwa abaphethe. Ngeke sikuvumele ukuthi inkohlakalo kulabo abaphethe idle lubi bese okufanele bafele lokho ekugcineni kosuku kube ngabasebenzi. Siyabonga kakhulu-ke, Sekela Somlomo, ohloniphekileyo.
English:
Thank you. [Applause.]