Speaker, I think it would be important to remind one another that we are meeting here in this week, which has been declared a mourning week. Maybe some of us should have known that others would take this opportunity for very cheap politicking. [Interjections.] There is a serious matter here before us.
The first thing which we all need to say is that we condemn violence wholly, not partially. Whatever quarter it comes from, it has to be condemned. I think the Chief Whip of the Majority Party has raised an important issue on what to do going forward. We should all welcome the interfaith fund which he mentioned - the relief fund from the various religious bodies - because it clearly states that there are people in our society who are thinking about the future and what needs to be done going forward as a nation.
It has to be said to the Leader of the Opposition that, prior to Thursday, 16 August 2012, 10 people had been killed. Some were hacked and others were burnt in a gruesome manner. Some of their body parts were removed or interfered with. It has to be said, in this instance, that the role which was played by the two people who are referred to as izangoma should be condemned because they had lied to people and had said all sorts of things which did not exist. I hope that these things will be uncovered during the inquiry process.
I listened to the Leader of the Opposition, the hon Lindiwe Mazibuko. You were actually writing the terms of reference; perhaps what you were saying here would be a good suggestion to the judicial commission of inquiry.
To hon Lekota, who says that he didn't see water cannons, teargas, and rubber bullets, I really wonder what you saw, sir! For your own information, all these things you were enumerating here were there and were used. After you stood here, you were immediately contradicted by the hon Holomisa, who actually saw those things. They were there, sir. I mean, we can help to ensure that you really see them even after the event.
We know very well the difference between the police and the army, which is why - even though the hon Kohler-Barnard is economical with the truth - we and nobody else said that the methods that we are using have to change and, indeed, we had to amend the law which governed that. It was we who said that it was not advisable to deal with the socioeconomic issues of the people of Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and Lavender Hills here in this province by bringing in the army because we knew what the consequences of such action would be.
Honestly speaking, you astounded me with your ignorance about how membership of trade unions works. Basically, people who work for trade unions get their salaries from the subscriptions of the membership, not from government. It surprises me, because you have been part of government. It's very important that we talk about these things.
To hon Holomisa, there was no plan from the police to ambush people. Policemen and women are workers like any other worker. They wake up in the morning and go to work; they don't plan to go to work and kill people. The hon Kohler-Barnard says that it was their decision that made the President suggest the commission of inquiry. That's not true and she knows it. When they made that suggestion, it had already been requested - first by the ANC and then the Ministry - that the President do that. Otherwise, what is outstanding in everything else she said is the fact that she is already giving evidence before the commission has sat! [Interjections.] She sees people who are wrong and says nothing about the role of the employer in this instance. Other people have commented on it, and it's very interesting. But otherwise, what she spoke were empty sounds of fury that really signify nothing. I don't think we need to go down that path.
Hon Lorimer, it's not true, sir, that Cosatu created violence in the labour situation in South Africa. This is the union that was established in response to the violent, undemocratic government of the time. Your ignorance of the historical evolution of our labour and capital relations in South Africa really needs to be assisted. It shows a lack of understanding of the relations in a capitalist mode of production and its effect on society. Some of the things which members have been raising are related directly to that. Ever since there was a question here, the Labour department did - even before the strike had started - offer itself to mediate in the process. You must do your own research on what happened then and who said no. It's the very people whom you think had nothing to do with this.
But most of the people have not been talking about the issue at hand. I think we all have to say that we have to regard this as one event on a learning curve. As a nation we must say that we are going forward and ask what it is that we have to offer in this regard. The Marikana people and people everywhere else in our country would want those answers - not cheap shots of a political nature. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Motion agreed to, all members standing.