Hon Speaker, hon members, yet another member gone. Another sombre moment engulfs this House and his family. The UDM extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, the ANC and friends of the late member Tommy Nkoana, as he was affectionately known.
During his short service the late Tommy served the nation with dedication through the National Assembly and as a member of the Portfolio Committees on Labour and on Communications. As this House, we will miss his contribution and wisdom. We have been robbed of a rare opportunity and the possibly to benefit from a reservoir of knowledge drawn from various and daily interactions with the realities confronting the majority of our people on the ground.
This knowledge, shared through the relevant portfolio committees and debates in this House, would have sharpened our capacity to make laws that would bring a fundamental change to the lives of our people. Ours is to pick up where he left off, redouble our efforts in serving the people of this country with humility, selflessness and dedication.
The best we can do in this regard and in memory of his humble service to the nation is to ensure that we develop and adopt laws that create a labour environment that absorbs as many people as possible from the army of the unemployed while ensuring freedom of the media and access to information. Success on these fronts shall ensure that his legacy and dedication to the nation remain with us forever.
To his family, the ANC and its alliance, and friends, we hope that over time you will be able to close this chapter and allow him to rest in peace, as the heavens have already integrated him as part of the family. May his soul rest in eternal peace. I thank you.