Deputy Speaker, the MF strongly condemns the incidents that led to the Sharpeville massacre.
After a long period of subjugation, we can boast of having an excellent human rights chapter. The Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. Our Constitution further provides for the establishment of the SA Human Rights Commission. But the question we can ask is: Is it really worth the paper it is written on? Have individuals easy and free access to the equality court, to our magistrates' courts and our high court?
We have fair administrative justice in respect of our human rights. We have legislation dealing with administrative justice and what we have to fight against is arrogance, people drunk with power, corruption and tenderpreneurship. These are the things in respect of which the citizens are questioning whether the jettisoning of apartheid was replaced with another form of apartheid.
What are we doing in the name of black economic empowerment? What are we doing in the name of affirmative action? The shame of Msunduzi, of Ithala Bank, of KZN Growth Fund cling to the face of the ruling party like mud that doesn't fall away. Are we fair to the ordinary citizens of our country? Do human rights mean people in power enriching themselves? Apartheid is gone, but what you are creating amongst the broad masses is not caste apartheid - which the whites had - but class apartheid.
There is a beautiful Zulu proverb that says, "Umuntu umuntu ngabantu", meaning those who are in power should not forget that they have been elevated by ordinary citizens. It is therefore absolutely imperative to promote respect for human rights. Poverty does not see face or race, and it attacks almost anyone who comes in front of it.
Mahatma Gandhi once said that we must not lose hope in humanity. Humanity is an ocean, and if a few dirty drops fall in the ocean, it doesn't mean that the entire ocean is dirty. It is high time the ruling party returned to the values and principles of its founding fathers and the values and principles of the great icon, Madiba. I thank you. [Applause.]