Hon Speaker of the National Assembly, hon Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon Members of this House, fellow South Africans, thank you for a very lively debate on the state of the nation address.
Before proceeding with the remarks that I have recorded, allow me to respond to uNdabezitha, uMntwana wakwaPhindangene, on the very strong input that he made with regard to a matter that affects the IFP and, perhaps, what he outlined as a problem between the IFP and the ANC.
Firstly, I believe that that matter really needs to be discussed by the IFP and the ANC. I believe that, if I were to respond to the matter here, it would not be considerate of how our relations have been over the years. Should I respond, I would disagree that the ANC is responsible for the problems of the IFP, but I would also say things that I believe are confidential and I don't think it is wise to do so ... [Applause.] ... particularly things that were discussed between the two of us. I would not even want to say that the quotation was selective, and perhaps not very accurate. [Laughter.]
Let's leave aside the many meetings that we have had in the recent past. Just before the general elections we had a very important meeting between the two of us and discussed three main issues. There was another smaller issue on the agenda of the meeting that was important as well, but I don't think it is wise for me to say what the agenda was. [Applause.] [Interjections.] That was a matter between the IFP and the ANC. It had nothing to do with the DA. [Laughter.]
We also had a second meeting. I am trying to say that the first meeting would not suggest that I was not interested in reconciliation, although the item was about reconciliation. The second meeting was here in Cape Town and it dealt with the response of your party to the offer I had made. I think that offer should also be understood as an important step towards moving to reconciliation. And, again, I will not mention the issue because, as you can see ...
... kukhona abanezindlebe esezifuna ukululeka khona bezozwa ukuthi kwakukhulunywa ngani. [Uhleko.] [... some people have pricked their ears in order to hear what was discussed. [Laughter.]]
The last meeting is the one you referred to and it was a continuation of the agenda. There were no new issues. However, there had been new developments and, as always, we discussed those very frankly and in a very friendly manner, even the matters that you referred to. I think it is important, therefore, to capture that correctly.
Even though the Deputy President was not at the meetings, he would be a witness to the meetings I am talking about because he has been aware of them. Some of the interactions that led to such meetings were as a result of your interaction with him. Part of the important things was how we can honour and fulfil the desires of all of us. However, there was one individual, Ntate Sibande, who always put it very clearly that, before he died, he wanted to see particular results. We all asked: At what point do we fulfil both these equally?
The point I was making at the meeting you talked about was related to where this problem will end. Where will it leave you, given your own history? I said this as an experienced politician. Political parties do come across problems among themselves and I was aware that the IFP one has been looming for a long time. You will agree with me that the IFP Youth Brigade has consistently been raising this issue for a number of years. They were not asked to do so by the ANC. In fact, at one point, one of your trusted members, called Jiyane, left the IFP. Jiyane was not sent by the ANC. So it is not the first time that the IFP had difficulties that all political parties, at one time or the other, will have to go through. [Applause.]
I think it is important that we maintain that confidentiality. That is why I thought that I would not go into the details during my response. I am very keen that the ANC and the IFP have an opportunity to respond.
The letter that you referred to - that said, let us meet - was delivered to me by the Deputy President from the hon member Zondi. It is a matter of two weeks, if I am not mistaken, no more. It's not as if I had received this letter a long time ago, but did not respond to it.
There were reasons for my delayed response and I sent a verbal message to hon Zondi, through premier Mkhize in his capacity as ANC chairperson of the province, on some developments that I was concerned about. Again, I am not going to mention them here.