How do we expect South Africans to believe that the Defence Minister is the only person in her department who knew that permission for the "HeliGupta" to land at the Waterkloof Air Force Base had been denied?
We now a have a peculiar situation in which officials have overruled a Ministerial decision. There is a Sepedi proverb that says ... "t?hwene ge e re ho! e botile lewa." [... people get up to mischief knowing very well that they can get away with it.]
The Guptas knew that what they were doing was wrong, but they went ahead and did it. They knew that nothing would happen to them, and they were right!
The officials did what they did because they were doing the President's friends a favour. They were humouring the President. Alternatively, they did so fearing the consequences if they disappointed the Guptas.
Ambassador Koloane had possibly heard of reports of what had happened to James Maseko, when he refused to redirect government's adverts to The New Age. He lost his job and he is still unemployed. [Interjections.]
Every South African should be angry about what happened at Waterkloof. Our country has been undermined. Hon Minister Radebe and, indeed, the whole executive should be angry.
The ruling party should be concerned about how individuals seem to have influence over the executive.
Indeed, here we are wasting our precious time, talking about the family wedding of a non-national! [Laughter.]
Our country has been mortgaged, and it is a disgrace. Thank you. [Applause.]