Voorsitter -
Langs die Grootpad van die lewe Met sy blydskap, lief en leed Leef so baie hoog verhewe dat ons skoon die pyn vergeet Van die lewensmo mensies
Op die grootpad van die lewe Jaag die "mercs" met fatcats voort Loop die Grondpad langs die Grootpad Om die eerste draaitjie dood.
Ek het hierdie gediggie baie jare gelede geskryf nadat ek aangegryp is deur 'n artikel van Max du Preez met die titel "Bonteheuwel op 'n Saterdagmiddag". So daar is 'n grootpad en daar's 'n grondpad. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr S E OPPERMAN: Chairperson -
Langs die Grootpad van die lewe Met sy blydskap, lief en leed Leef so baie hoog verhewe dat ons skoon die pyn vergeet Van die lewensmo mensies
Op die grootpad van die lewe Jaag die "mercs" met fatcats voort Loop die Grondpad langs die Grootpad Om die eerste draaitjie dood.
I wrote this poem many years ago after I was moved by an article by Max du Preez entitled "Bonteheuwel op 'n Saterdagmiddag". So there is a highway, and there is a dirt road.]
Therefore my theme this afternoon is "Hands across the highway". The Minister of Finance referred in his Budget Speech to the agricultural support and rural development. The proposal of Lazarus Lamola, wherein he encouraged partnerships to once again use the land for food production and sustenance, is relevant.
Maar hoe maak die 24 kleinboere van Tembalethu naby George as die pompstasie wat die water tot bo by hul damme moet pomp stuk-stuk weggedra is; as die elektriese kabels wat die krag na die pompstasie moet lei by die skrootwerf beland het; as die water wat gepomp moet word so besoedel is dat dit 'n gesondheidsgevaar inhou? As hierdie 24 kleinboere op hulself aangewese moet bly, sal die aasvols bly sirkel, al sit hulle sedert die dae van Lampie Fick op van die waardevolste grond in die George-omgewing. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[But what are the 24 small farmers of Tembalethu near George to do when the pump station that pumps the water into their dams has been carried away piece by piece; when the electrical cables that supply the power to the pump station, have ended up in the scrapyard; when the water that has to be pumped is so polluted that it poses a health risk? If these 24 small farmers have to rely on themselves, the vultures will keep circling, even though, since the time of Lampie Fick, they find themselves on some of the most valuable land in the George area.]
Here is an ideal opportunity, hon Minister of Finance, for what you have proposed, a comprehensive agricultural support programme and allocation to target rural infrastructure projects. We have worked on a business plan with strategic directives. We have organised mentoring, but without financial support it means nothing.
Hierdie projek op die plaas Sandkraal moet gekoppel word aan Hoogekraal om 'n kombinasie van landbou en erfenistoerisme, wat 'n geweldige ekonomiese potensiaal het, te laat realiseer. Pacaltsdorp was eers Hoogekraal en voor dit Curi Kama Kraal. Net so was Platteklipstroom in die Kaap eers Soete of Varsche Rivier, en voor dit Camissa ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[This project on the farm Sandkraal must be linked to Hoogekraal in order to realise a combination of agriculture and heritage tourism that has enormous economic potential. Pacaltsdorp was formerly known as Hoogekraal and before that, Curi Kama Kraal. Similarly, Platteklipstroom in the Cape was called Soete or Varsche Rivier, and before that Camissa ... ]
... which means the water is sweet.
So, ja, ek verwys na 'n spesifieke erfenis, 'n onderdrukte erfenis, 'n erfenis wat nou benut moet word. Daarom het ek ook aan die burgemeester van Kaapstad en die agb Komphela voorgestel dat die nuwe stadion in Kaapstad Kai Haa Mullai moet heet, oftewel "Great Flat Pastoral Lands," want so het die Otentottu die area genoem. Die Franse het Mullai na Mouille, oftewel "anchorage" gekorrupteer. Ek hoop nie hierdie voorstel van my vir regstellende optrede val op dowe ore nie.
Ek het self by geleentheid ook verwys na die artefakte van eens magtige koninkryke wat teen die mure van die Britse Museum in Londen hang. Enige individu of organisasie wat sy morele kompas verloor het, is op pad muur toe!
Dit was 'n wonderlike voorreg om die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap as politieke verteenwoordiger te dien. Ek dank die Here vir 'n wonderlike seisoen. Ek s dankie vir wonderlike vriendskappe. Ek s dankie aan wonderlike kollegas. Ek s dankie aan my wonderlike vrou, Agnes, en 'n wonderlike, ondersteunende familie. Groete aan u almal, en senwense. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[So, yes, I refer to a specific heritage, an oppressed heritage, a heritage that must now be utilised. That is why I also suggested to the mayor of Cape Town and the hon Komphela that the new stadium in Cape Town should be called Kai Haa Mullai, that is, "Great Flat Pastoral Lands", because this is how the Otentottu called the area. The French corrupted Mullai into Mouille, that is, "anchorage". I hope this proposal of mine for affirmative action does not fall on deaf ears. On occasion I have also referred to the artefacts of once mighty kingdoms that hang on the walls of the British Museum in London. Any individual or organisation that has lost its moral compass is on its way to the wall!
It was a wonderful privilege to serve the South African community as a political representative. I thank the Lord for a wonderful season. I thank you for wonderful friendships. I thank wonderful colleagues. I thank my wonderful wife, Agnes, and a wonderful supportive family. Greetings and best wishes to you all. Thank you. [Applause.]]