Deputy Speaker, we are gathered here once more to bid farewell to one of our outstanding South Africans, whom death has taken away from us. It feels like we are meeting far too often for this purpose, and this fills me with sadness.
Morena Ramodike re mo tseba gabotsebotse ka ge re got?e le yena. Nna ke thaka ya ka. Gabotsebotse re mo tseba ge a be a sa le molaolasephetephete, wa go ba le kgang, wa go emi?a makgowa mo tseleng nakong ya ge makgowa a be a sa emi?we. Bao ba bego ba ?oma le yena ba mo laet?e gore a emi?e bathobaso fela eup?a yena ge a fihla kua tseleng o be a emi?a le makgowa. Re a e tseba taba yeo. Ka fao taba ya gagwe ya go lokolla naga ye, ga se ya thoma ka nako yeo go bego go lwelwa ditokelo t?e dingwe, yena o lwet?e le ditokelo t?a gore batho ka moka ba swarwe ka go swana. (Translation of Sepedi paragraph follows.)
[We knew Mr Ramodike very well because we grew up with him. He was actually my peer. In fact, we knew him from when he was still a stubborn traffic officer. Then he would pull the white motorists over, and it was against the law. His seniors ordered him to pull only African motorists over, but he would not bend. That much we know. His fight for liberation - that all the people must be treated equally - therefore started long ago.]
On behalf of the UDM, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues and to the ANC. As the former Chief Minister of the Lebowa homeland, the late hon Ramodike worked hard to serve the people of Lebowa. He was one of the few homeland leaders who embraced the Codesa negotiations and worked hard to ensure they were a success. In the new South Africa, the late hon Ramodike became a Member of Parliament for the United Democratic Movement in the period 1999 to 2004.
We are saddened by your loss, "Noko". We hope you will be somewhat comforted by the fact that you reached the highest pinnacle of legislative service for the country. Now his name will forever be recorded among the names of those democrats who served the nation with distinction. "Noko" actually means porcupine in English. A porcupine, for those who don't know, is a very small animal with thorns. He was thorny; very, very thorny.
Robala ka khut?o, Noko, re re o re ?omet?e ngwane?o; ga go be bjalo. [May your soul rest in peace, Noko. You fought for the nation. Let it be.]