Mnr die Speaker, Suid-Afrikaners sien die afgelope tyd al hoe meer Ministers in ampsmotors met flitsende blou ligte jaag en wetsgehoorsame burgers eenvoudig van die pad af dwing. Die houding spreek duidelik, "Te hel met die publiek!"
Verlede Saterdagoggend, 5 November, is Thomas Ferreira, 18-jarige matriekleerling aan die Horskool Bastion in Krugersdorp, niksvermoedend op pad met sy selfgeboude klein motorfietsie. Hy ry rustig oor die kruising van Windsor- en Paardekraalweg, want die verkeerslig is vir hom groen.
Maar, Humphrey Mmemezi, provinsiale minister van Gauteng, is op pad met flitsende blou ligte. Sy bestuurder steek links verby die stilstaande voertuig voor hom, oor die geel streep, oor die rooi verkeerslig, en tref die jong man op sy motorfiets. Die ongeluk gebeur reg voor ander mense in stilstaande voertuie. Party neem foto's en ander wil help. Mmemezi, egter, gee vinnig pad.
Thomas l nou in die Krugersdorp-hospitaal in 'n koma. Sy lewe hang aan 'n draadjie. Burgers boet met hulle lewens vir 'n outoritre regime wat hulle mag misbruik met aggressiewe blouligbrigades. Soos diktators, dink hulle hulle is bo die wet verhewe. [Tussenwerpsels.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Ms A M DREYER (DA): Mr Speaker, in recent times South Africans have been seeing more and more Ministers speeding in official vehicles with flashing blue lights, simply forcing law-abiding citizens off the road. The attitude clearly says: "To hell with the public!"
Last Saturday morning, 5 November, Thomas Ferreira, an 18-year-old matric pupil at Bastion High School in Krugersdorp, was unsuspectingly on his way on his home-made small motorcycle. He was calmly crossing the intersection of Windsor Road and Paardekraal Road, because the traffic light was green for him. But Humphrey Mmemezi, provincial minister of Gauteng, was on his way with flashing blue lights. His chauffeur passed the stationary vehicle in front of him on the left, over the yellow line, crossed the red traffic light, and hit the young man on his motorcycle. The accident took place right in front of other people in stationary vehicles. Some took photos and others tried to help. Mmemezi, however, quickly drove off.
Thomas is now lying in a coma in the Krugersdorp hospital. His life is hanging by a thread. Citizens are paying with their lives for an authoritarian regime that abuses its power with aggressive blue light brigades. Like dictators, they believe that they are above the law. [Interjections.] [Applause.]]