Ningakhala nithini; andiyi ndawo. [You may interject all you want; I am here to stay.] [Laughter.]
Hon Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, hon members, hon Chief Justice Langa and hon Chief Justice Ngcobo, in a democratic South Africa the champions of justice are those who faithfully and unswervingly serve the Constitution. Today, in this Joint Sitting, in the presence of their fellow justices from the Constitutional Court, the Labour Court, the Land Claims Court, the Competition Appeal Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, and the Judges President from all divisions, we express our heartfelt appreciation to Chief Justice Pius Langa for his singular devotion to upholding the Constitution. For the judges of our land, the executive and the members of the legislature, there is no other master but the Constitution, and only the Constitution.
In life, people can make one of two choices: making a sacrifice for a noble cause or sacrificing that noble cause on the altar of expediency and its baser desires. In our world, society venerates the truth, and faithful judges, among their colleagues and peers, find sincere acknowledgement and deep respect. This is what is worth living for; all else is a sham. When former President Mandela paid tribute to Chief Justice Corbett in 1996, he identified the following four tests for every judge in South Africa to pass: "Passion for justice", "sensitivity to racial discrimination", "intellectual rigour", and "clarity of thought". Chief Justices Mahomed and Chaskalson passed these tests with flying colours and, in our view, so has Chief Justice Pius Langa. He made shirts as a young man; now he is making history without creases or soiling. It is very hard to be true to oneself, to one's calling, to the struggle, to the people of the country and to the oath one takes. That is why, when exceptional people such as Chief Justice Langa remain true and unblemished, we take them to our hearts and prize their life's worth. [Applause.]
You have done us proud, Chief Justice Langa. You have protected our Constitution, and therefore our freedom. For us in Cope, the defence of the Constitution merits the highest consideration and, therefore, we'll unfalteringly place the highest premium on it and give the highest honour to those who will preserve its integrity. Even at the practical, down-to- earth level, you have worked ...