Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President and hon Ministers who are here, I've got to say upfront that I was only informed at 10:00 this morning by your candidate, the ANC candidate, that I had to come and speak here. At that time she had not yet told us that she was appearing on your list. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
I am honoured to participate in this debate to bid farewell to the hon Minister Manuel, who I presume has decided to take leave of parliamentary politics. I'm saying, "take leave of parliamentary politics" because a political activist never takes leave of politics.
There are issues to do with Minister Manuel which are common knowledge to all South Africans. We all know that he was one of the longest serving Finance Ministers. We all know that he was faced with the challenge of steering the South African ship towards a stable economy. We all know that he navigated the National Planning Commission towards the production of the National Development Plan. We all remember how he moved from one caucus to another like a salesman to explain matters and get buy-in to the National Development Plan from all political parties. When this Parliament unanimously adopted the National Development Plan he knew that he had done his job of putting a common objective before the country and the nation.
We are unable to limit your contribution to this country only to your activities as a Minister in Cabinet. We all know that you participated fully in bringing the South Africa we are celebrating into being. Your role as a member of the Cape Areas Housing Action Committee is as important as your role as a government Minister. Your holding the United Democratic Front affiliates together during the Delmas Treason Trial is more than what you did as the Minister of Finance, because it was during this period that the Congress of SA Trade Unions adopted the Freedom Charter and there were all the problems that came with it. It was during this time that the struggle for nonracialism emerged as a prominent ideology against other views that were more about revenge and anger. You know that during that period it was not fashionable to be a varara [skollie].
I don't know whether you still remember how and where we met. Just to jog your memory, it was at Joanne Yawitz's house in Yeoville in 1985. Now you can put the pieces together. It was before you started going to detention as a regular activity, and when the struggle for freedom intensified. You were an inspiration to a lot of youth, particularly in the Western Cape. If you still remember, after your release and when restrictions were lifted somewhere around 1987-88, I came to see you, accompanied by a youngster called Allister. He talked about you continuously in a taxi from the station to your house and back. That's how he regarded you, as an activist and as a leader.
Your role during that time created many Allisters who are today holding different responsibilities in trying to make South Africa a better place for all of us. They might not be prominent individuals in political parties, but they understand that South Africa can only succeed if we all work hard in an honest and caring manner. Your exemplary behaviour during that period of the struggle against apartheid and now against poverty is worth being emulated. Your understanding that the poor do not have to be with us forever should be taken to wherever you are going. The struggle against inequality can be won. As humans advance, we need to understand that there will be many stages they will have to go through.
As a comrade and Minister you understand that to tell the truth is no art at all. In 1910 Theodore Roosevelt, whilst talking about the "New Nationalism", said:
National efficiency has to do, not only with natural resources and with men, but it is equally concerned with institutions.
As a Minister, we believe that you understood this very well.
Cope wishes you well in your future endeavours and knows that you will never tire of contributing to the wealth and progress of this country. We have no doubt that you will continue to ensure that what is enshrined in the Freedom Charter is realised. We bid you farewell and we hope that you will enjoy whatever you are going to do.
I also have to bid farewell to all ANC members who have to give way to others who came on your list via other political parties. [Laughter.] [Applause.]