Madam Deputy Speaker, we, from the DA, certainly support the motion. I want to say that I had the privilege of knowing Prince Zulu for a number of years. He was, as the hon Buthelezi has pointed out, a remarkably polite and decent man. I want to use the word dignified as far as he is concerned, because I think he was really a remarkably dignified person. He was held in very high esteem by all those he came into contact with. Therefore, it was with great sadness and regret that the DA learnt that he had passed away at the age of 67, in the early hours of Friday, 15 June.
Prince Zulu has certainly been an important and respected Member of Parliament, since he joined this institution in the mid 1990s. During his time as an MP, we know that he served on a number of portfolio committees including labour, education, and home affairs. I would like the House to know that our members who served with him on those committees have acknowledged him to have been a worthy adversary, but also a good friend, an accomplished debater and a hard-working person generally. But it was the dignity with which he upheld both himself and that auspicious position as a Member of Parliament that always was particularly noteworthy about him.
Again, as we have heard from the hon Buthelezi, Prince Zulu was a long-time member of the IFP and the precursor to the IFP, the Inkatha Cultural Liberation Movement, when it was launched in 1975. He was indeed a stalwart of the struggle and of the IFP, and we offer our sincere condolences to his party.
One of the many things that was impressive about Prince Zulu was that he was someone who always strived to better himself. Throughout his long career at Sappi, and during his time here in Parliament, he continued studying and he received numerous qualifications in a wide range of subjects. And as we have heard from those who knew him, he truly believed that knowledge was power and he read anything he could get his hands on, be it newspapers, magazines, journals, articles or books. He was also a devout Christian. He was an active member of the Anglican Church.
On behalf of the DA, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Prince Zulu at this time of their loss. Our thoughts are very much with you all at this difficult time. Parliament has lost an exemplary member who was a true asset to the institution. We are confident that he will be greatly missed not only by the Members of this Parliament but by all parliamentary staff who had the pleasure of working with him as well.