Hon Chairperson and hon fellow delegates, one of the privileges of being part of the first democratic Parliament constituted after the historic elections on 27 April 1994 and the subsequent constitutional assembly, was to see and meet face to face, for the first time - for me, in any case - the giants and heroes of the struggle, people who until then had been mere opponents of the then society, often caricatured and belittled by politicians and the media alike. One such giant was Prof Kader Asmal, who soon impressed me as a highly intellectual and principled leader who, despite the hardship of 30 years in exile, never lost his strong sense of humour.
Voorsitter, die feit dat prof Kader Asmal vir 30 jaar in Ierland en elders was, het hom nie weerhou om homself te bekwaam vir 'n taak wat hy geweet het op hom wag hier in Suid-Afrika nie. Daar waar hy homself in Ierland bevind het, het hy homself nie net bekwaam nie, maar hy het ook uitgestyg as 'n leier en talle eretoekennings ontvang. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, the fact that Prof Kader Asmal lived in Ireland and elsewhere for 30 years did not restrain him from training for a task he knew would await him here in South Africa. When he found himself in Ireland, he not only capacitated himself, but also emerged as a leader, receiving a number of honorary awards.]
Much will be said and much has been said about his political life, but, to me, he will be remembered as a man of strong principle, and whatever the case may be, whatever the circumstances, I never ever saw him deviate from the principles that he stood for.
As ons in ag neem dat prof Kader Asmal maar vir 'n bietjie meer as twee dekades sy lewe in sy moederland kon kom afsluit, moet ons die gebeure wat dit voorafgegaan het en dit veroorsaak het weereens ernstig betreur. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[When we take into consideration the fact that Prof Kader Asmal could only return to his native country for two decades to complete his life, we must once again seriously lament those events which preceded and occasioned this.]
While we pay tribute to him as a man, the DA also wishes to pay tribute to his services to his country and certainly to his party, to that which he stood for, and also to convey our sincere condolences to his beloved family.
Mag sy siel in vrede rus. Ek dank u. [Applous.] [May his soul rest in peace. I thank you. [Applause.]]