Hon Deputy Speaker, there is a famous saying that says, "Failure is an orphan, but success has many fathers." This afternoon we have many parents claiming this Bill to be their product, if I could put it that way.
Taal is 'n baie emosionele saak wat geweldige konflik, spanning en probleme kan veroorsaak. Ek het vanmiddag na die agb Moss geluister, wat vertel het van die wet; dat daar geen probleem met die wet was nie en hoe dit basies gehanteer is. Dit is nie korrek nie. Die wet soos aanvanklik ingedien in die Parlement was 'n bron van groot konflik en diegene wat die situasie dopgehou het, het geweet dit sou onafwendbaar in die Konstitusionele Hof eindig. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Language is a very emotional issue that can create a lot of conflict, stress and problems. This afternoon I listened to the hon Moss, who spoke about the Act; that there were no problems concerning the Act and how the Act basically was dealt with. That is not correct. The Act as initially introduced in Parliament was a source of enormous conflict and those who observed the situation knew it would inevitably end up in the Constitutional Court.]
We made it very clear that we would not accept the original Bill as introduced in Parliament and that the matter would end up in the Constitutional Court because we strongly believed that it was unconstitutional. We felt very strongly about that.
Van die VF Plus se eerste dag af in hierdie raad in 1994 het ons nie net vir Afrikaans nie, maar vir multilingualism [veeltaligheid] geveg - vir verskillende tale, vir al die tale van Suid-Afrika. Dit was deurlopend ons standpunt en ek is baie dankbaar dat ons vandag 'n situasie het waar ons al die tale van Suid-Afrika in hierdie raad kan praat en waar dit vertaal word. Daarom is ons dankbaar vir die wysigings aan hierdie wet. Dit het gemaak dat die wetgewing 'n sukses is, in di opsig dat alle partye dit nou eendragtig ondersteun en entoesiasties daaroor is. Maar .... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Since the FF Plus's first day in this House in 1994 we have not only fought for Afrikaans, but also for multilingualism - for different languages, for all the languages of South Africa. This has continuously been our opinion and I am very grateful that today we have a situation in which we can speak all the South African languages in this House and in which they are being translated. That is why we are grateful for the amendments to this Act. They have contributed to the success of this legislation, in the sense that all parties now unanimously support it and are enthusiastic about it. But ...]
... the proof will be at the end, during implementation. There are wonderful provisions in the Bill at this stage. When it becomes a law of Parliament, it will be a good thing and we support that. However, we will have to see how it is implemented in the different state departments and provinces; whether this really gives expression to what is needed.
If we were serious about unity in our diversity, we would respect the languages of all our citizens. We should accommodate all our citizens in that respect.
Ons steun dit. In 'n laaste woord voor my tyd verby is, wil ek dankie s aan die voorsitter van die portefeuljekomitee, die agb Sunduza. Sy is 'n interessante Parlementslid ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[We support it. Lastly, before my time expires, I want to thank the chairperson of the portfolio committee, the hon Sunduza. She is an interesting Member of Parliament ...]
... if I may put it that way. She is very strong in what she does.
Ek wil vir haar dankie s vir die wyse waarop sy die leiding in die portefeuljekomitee geneem het en haar standpunt daar gestel het. Ek ondersteun dit. Ons steun die wet. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[I want to thank her for the way in which she took leadership in the portfolio committee and for her standpoint, which she started there. I support it. We support the Act.]