Mutshamaxitulu, Xandla xa Mutshamaxitulu, Vaholobye lava nga kona na swirho swa huvo, ndza mi xeweta. [Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers and members of the House present, I salute you.]
Listen to this quotation for the one thing that is perfectly shared between the predecessors and the present people of South Africa:
If anyone can be accused of laying the foundations of apartheid, it was that most English of Englishmen, Cecil John Rhodes.
In 1887, 61 years before the Nationalists came to power in South Africa, he stood before a packed House of Assembly in Cape Town and declared:
These are my politics on native affairs, and these are the politics of South Africa ... The native is to be treated as a child and denied the franchise.
I am just putting things into context so that people must know where they come from, in case they don't know their grandparents. [Laughter.] Very soon after that Dr Verwoerd, as if he did not want to be outdone, said:
What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice?
I listened to hon member Harris speaking about mathematics and science. I am just teaching you what you may be avoiding to learn, and that is the value of history.
Let's move on. For pessimists like the DA, it is the worst of times. They see gloom everywhere. But for the optimists, the ANC, it is the best of times as we celebrate the many positives that have been articulated. Let us celebrate. You are welcome to join us in the celebrations. [Applause.]
Hon McIntosh, when we are sitting together in the committee you often say that you like me. [Laughter.] But what you do not know is that this means that you like a communist. As hon Coleman indicated, we have been convened here to debate the opinion of 45 wise business people. Where is labour in this thought formation? Are they the custodians of thinking for everybody? Who gave them that authority? Workers and the working class can also speak for themselves.
Chairperson, let us celebrate our achievements, for example the innovation which is a driver of future growth and jobs. We need to consider taking further action to convert this strength into opportunities for job creation. This means investing in research and development and in products whereby South Africa can be a leading player. It is about creating competitive advantage from our strengths. Education, skills and development areas need to be improved. Implementation is an area in which we are going to improve. We acknowledge the weaknesses that we have in South Africa that we inherited from 300 years of oppression. Often, reforms mean reducing and ... [Interjections.]