Deputy Speaker, hon members, today we remember our hon comrade, Comrade George Phadagi. Comrade George Phadagi was born in 1952. May his soul rest in peace.
The loss of the hon Phadagi is also our loss as the ANC, his family and the government as well. He was a liberator who fought for the liberation of South African people under the ANC. He was a member of the UDF, and later became a chairperson of the Far North Region. He became the first mayor during the transitional local government, from 1995 to 2000. He was deployed to the National Assembly in 2002.
The hon George Phadagi and I arrived here on the same day and took our oath in the Speaker's office on 15 January 2002. When we came here, we were really learners, because we were disorientated: we did not know Parliament. We used to go out to Ms Iliffe's office, but when we had to return, we did not know the way back.
We used to come to this cross in the carpet. We were looking at the red carpet. The red carpet would also go in the other direction, and we would turn and get lost.
Comrade Phadagi was a very quiet man who used to make a lot of jokes. We would then pull each other every which way, but, in the end, we would get somebody to show us the way.
He was a very, very good father. He used to stay with his children in Acacia Park, while his wife was at home. But he used to look very nicely and very well after his kids. During our time here, the hon Phadagi said to me: You know what? I want you to have a memory of this Parliament. I am going to make an album for you.
I asked him how. He then brought with him a camera. Most of the members who were here during that time knew the hon Phadagi with his camera. He took photos, and today I remember him through those photos. He did a very good job. The hon Phadagi was not a talkative person. He was very quiet. Even when we were in a caucus, he was quiet and would sit alone as if he could not understand anything, when, in fact, he was very brilliant.
I will remember him in years to come as the orderly person that he was. He was a person of good order. I still have this photo album today, thanks to him. He became a member of the Limpopo legislature when he did not return in 2009. He was MEC for Public Works, later becoming MEC for the Police, and then an adviser to the Premier of the Limpopo province, Premier Motale. May his soul rest in peace. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Agreed to, members standing.