Hon Speaker, it is with utmost sadness and shock that the IFP learnt of the untimely passing of the late hon Jacobus Schmidt at the end of last year. Although the late hon Schmidt was only a member of this Fourth Parliament for a relatively short period of time, he made a significant impact on the committee he served.
Mr Schmidt, as a DA shadow deputy minister of energy, exposed Eskom's failures and addressed the critical shortcomings within the parastatal. He played an active role in the portfolio committee and it quickly became clear that he had a passion for energy matters and that he was fully committed to serving the people of South Africa by holding the executive to account.
In 1993, Mr Schmidt became a teacher at Concordia Secondary School in Theunissen. This school was started to educate underprivileged black children in a conservative white community. Along with other pioneers of the Concordia School, he received acclaim for his teaching work in previously disadvantaged communities.
In 1996, he was promoted to deputy principal of the Reseamohetse Primary School and, with the help of the management team under his exceptional leadership, the school became the best performing primary school in the Free State for four consecutive years.
It is obvious that Mr Schmidt had a passion for people. He was a true leader and he worked tirelessly for a better South Africa for all whether here in Parliament or back home in his constituency. The IFP conveys its heartfelt condolences to hon Schmidt's friends, family and the DA. [Applause.]