Madam Deputy Speaker, hon members, we are today paying our respects to a man from Tswinga, a place that ordinarily would not appear in the atlas or map book, but this is no issue because the Redeemer of this world was born in Nazareth, of all places.
I came to know George in the 2004 to 2009 session of Parliament and came to know him closer as we served together on the Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Traditional Affairs. His passion for the subject came out clearly because he was once a hands-on mayor of the Thohoyandou Municipality in Limpopo.
It also came out clearly that he had made a choice to join the ANC when it was not fashionable. He was put through the mill as he was incessantly incarcerated, but he never gave up or caved in. He displayed his principled stance when he stood up and made it clear that his conviction would not be swayed by hunger, or hankering after positions. It occurred to me that he was in the struggle with the likes of the late George Ramudzuli, my former student, who paid the price for his views.
Mr Phadagi was a man with a quiet disposition who kept his peace. We in the UCDM believe that wherever he has been called to, it must be a better place for him.
As we salute this son of the soil and doff our hats to his dedication, our hearts go out to his wife and children, extended family and the ANC. May his soul rest in peace. I thank you. [Applause.]