Voorsitter en agb lede, ons is almal baie bly om soveel vissermense vandag hier saam te h. Hierdie debat is 'n wonderlike en belangrike geleentheid vir elke vissersgemeenskap in Suid-Afrika, maar kom ons wees nou eerlik. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.) [Chairperson and hon members, we are all very happy to see so many fisherfolk with us today. This debate is a wonderful and important opportunity for all fishing communities in South Africa, but let us be honest.]
The Minister said today at her press conference just before this House met that fishing communities across South Africa would be able to look forward to a brighter Christmas. The fact is that nothing could be further from the truth. If the Minister had brought the Bill before Parliament when the DA first requested it 24 months ago, then Christmas for these ladies and gentlemen from the fishing communities would have been brighter, because the Bill would have been through the provincial process and would have been signed into law already.
However, the Minister brought the Bill here three months after the deadline for Bills to be processed in this House this year and, as a result, it will only be implemented at the end of next year at the earliest. [Interjections.] Minister, that is not the committee's fault, and that is not the DA's fault, and it is not the ANC members on your back benches' fault; that is your fault. [Interjections.] You have been the Minister for four and a half years ...