Madam House Chairperson, this House adopted a Constitution 16 years ago as a vision for a postapartheid South Africa. We all proclaimed that it was founded upon human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights for all. Despite the widespread public outcry and condemnation today, exactly 16 weeks have passed since this House passed the secrecy Bill, a piece of legislation that in the form considered acceptable by members on this side of the House, amounted to a full-scale legislative assault on the freedom of the press and other media in South Africa - a basic human right entrenched in section 16 of our Constitution. On that note, those ANC MPs with a conscience, who remembered their power and refused to vote for the secrecy Bill, must once again be congratulated. However, 16 days ago the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development proclaimed that he would be releasing a discussion document in support of the statement about reviewing the powers and decisions of the Constitutional Court and the role of the Constitution in showing where government itself has failed. This document is littered with derogative language seeking a judiciary that is compliant and co-operative with the executive, despite being constitutionally guaranteed its independence. The ANC policy discussion documents recently released show that the party has the Constitution and human rights firmly in its sight.
There is a different debate that should be held today, on the eve of the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the South African Human Rights Commission. This debate should be entitled "Human Rights Day - where government and the governing party close ranks to sow disunity and adversity by threatening human rights for all". [Applause.]