Deputy Speaker, hon President, Deputy President and hon members, we listened to the Ministers speak yesterday here in Parliament, and elsewhere in the media. Mr President, every day, we hear them singing your praises, and that of your administration and your leadership. Since you are an ordained part-time pastor yourself, I would like to quote Esther 3:15 from the Bible to you: "So the King and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed." In this case, you are the King, your Ministers and your praise singers are Haman and South Africa is Shushan.
Like Alan Paton's book, Cry, the Beloved Country, that verse represents the status of this country as we see it today. As Cope, we are worried that somewhere, somehow, we might be living in two different countries, with you and your leaders who believe that nothing is going wrong in this country. [Interjections.]
Before I get into my speech, let me set the record straight. Cope is not part of the DA and we will never be part of the DA. [Interjections.] Stop your overused propaganda! [Interjections.]
As for the statement and the attack by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Mr Lekota and Chief Buthelezi, I will not stoop to respond to such ignorance. [Interjections.]