Chairperson, we are voting to give the Human Rights Commission a not-so-good membership, which is worse than it could have been, had the best candidates been chosen. Yet the IFP is voting in favour if it, because it is much better than what the ANC wanted it to be and in acknowledgement that substantial given-and-take between the ANC and the non-ANC components of the committee has indeed occurred. In this respect, we thank Chairman Ramathlodi and the hon Holomisa, Jeffery and Ndabandaba for their leadership.
Our vote in support is also justified on account of Chairman Ramathlodi's initiative, endorsed by the committee, to harness the skill of all candidates shortlisted for the Human Rights Commission into an advisory panel to the Justice committee, on which they will serve on a voluntary basis and without any remuneration or cost to Parliament.
Therefore, even though some of the best candidates cannot provide their skills and leadership to the Human Rights Commission, they can nonetheless contribute to the overall formula of governance through our own committee.
Our vote of support is also based on the undertaking made during the interviews by all nominees to turn over a new page. Until now, the Human Rights Commission has been lame, weak and meek. In the past 15 years, much more has been achieved in the protection of human rights by NGOs, which brought litigation against government in actual redress of human rights violations in spite of their much smaller budgets, which is more than could be said for the Human Rights Commission. This must now change.
The Asmal report clearly indicated that Adv Mushwana misunderstood his role under the Constitution when he was the Public Protector and acted in a subservient and advisory capacity to government. This has been pointed out to him during the interviews and his inclusion on the commission is on the basis of him agreeing to change his ways.
The commission is not there to advise and counsel government or exercise oversight over its department. Its primary role is that of being a defender of freedom and liberty, and stepping up to the task of challenging and redressing any human rights violations in an uncompromising fashion whenever and however they occur. Thank you. [Time expired.]