Agb Voorsitter, die klas van 1994 word al kleiner. As ek nie verkeerd is nie, dink ek daar is dalk minder as 30 lede wat in 1994 hier begin het in die Parlement oor.
Eerw Meshoe was een van die klas van 1994. N die eerste demokratiese verkiesing was hy hier saam met sy party, die ACDP. Hy het op sy kenmerkende manier aan die verkiesing deelgeneem. Hy is verkies en van dag een af het hy as leier van sy party hier opgetree en 'n sekere styl en statuur uitgedra wat hy regdeur sy loopbaan van byna 20 jaar gedoen het.
Ek wil vir eerw Meshoe s dat daar is groot waardering vir die wyse waarop hy 20 jaar lank sy standpunte gestel het. Ek het hom nie een keer in hierdie Raad onwaardig sien optree nie. Hy was altyd "dignified". Hy het altyd met oortuiging sy standpunte gestel, en natuurlik het hy met die regerende party verskil. Hy het ook met ander partye verskil, wat sy goeie reg was, maar die manier waarop dit gedoen is, was vir ons almal 'n voorbeeld, en ek respekteer en eer hom daarvoor.
Ons wat in die kleiner partye is, weet watter moeilike stryd dit is om as 'n kleiner party in hierdie groot vertrek gehoor en gesien te word en om ons standpunte gestel te kry. Eerw Meshoe het vir byna 20 jaar lank daarin geslaag om effektief sy eie en sy party se standpunte hier te stel, en niemand kan s hulle het nie geweet waar hy of die ACDP staan nie.
Ek wil vir hom alles van die beste toewens waar hy uit die Parlement bedank en uit die politiek tree. Ons hoop dat daar vir hom 'n mooi en rustige tyd saam met sy familie en geliefdes sal wees. Hy kan huistoe gaan en weet die spreekwoord s ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Hon Chairperson, the class of 1994 is getting smaller and smaller. If I am not mistaken, I think there might be less than 30 members left in Parliament who started here in 1994.
Rev Meshoe is a member of the class of 1994. He started here with his party, the ACDP, after the first democratic election. He participated in the election in his characteristic manner. He was elected and, from day one, acted as leader of his party with a certain style and stature, which he continued doing throughout his career of almost 20 years.
I want to say to Rev Meshoe that there is great appreciation for the way in which he expressed his views during these past 20 years. Not once have I seen him act in an undignified manner. He was always dignified. He always expressed his views with conviction, and of course he differed from the ruling party. He also differed from other parties, as was his right, but he did this in a manner that set an example to us all, and I respected and honoured him for that.
Those of us who serve in the smaller parties know how difficult it is to be heard and seen, and to be able to express your views in this big Chamber. Rev Meshoe succeeded in expressing his and his party's views effectively here for almost 20 years, and nobody can claim that they were unaware of his or the ACDP's position.
I want to wish him all of the best with his retirement from Parliament and politics. We hope that he will enjoy a beautiful and peaceful time with his family and loved ones. He can go home and know that as the saying goes ...]
One person at the right time can make a difference. You made that difference. [Applause.]