Chairperson, His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Deputy President of the Republic, Cabinet Ministers present, hon members of the House, guests in the gallery: Firstly, I want to address myself to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Trollip, on the issue of appointing people who were involved in the travel issue as chairpersons. The issue here is that the DA as an organisation is always talking about the rule of law and respect for the rule of law. Not only that, they talk about respect for the Constitution. In this matter, when we were dealing with the Scorpions, the parliamentary legal services pronounced on the issue, but not only that. Mr Hugh Glenister took the matter to court, even to the highest court of the land. They failed. The members who were involved in the travel issue are members of the House and they can participate in all parliamentary processes. [Applause.]
Now they are talking about respect for the rule of law while they are undermining the Constitution and the Constitutional Court, which says these members have the right to participate here. They talk about morals and respect for the law and the Constitution when it suits them. What I was saying is that, even thereafter, the Electoral Court handled the matter and pronounced on it. You can't awake ghosts on matters that were finalised by the courts if you respect the rule of law. We must speak the same language. [Applause.]
What we probably should do is to have some sort of induction for new Members of Parliament on decisions that were taken by the previous Parliament, so that they do not repeat the same ground in that respect. [Interjections.]
The second issue that was raised by the Leader of the Opposition was that of the ANC in the Western Cape. He said that the ANC in the Western Cape was adverse to being in opposition; they are uncomfortable. That's what he said. Since 1994, the ANC has been in opposition. We know about this. When the then National Party and the then Democratic Party formed a coalition of convenience, in that situation the ANC was an opposition and we never had any problem with that. Even today we will continue to be an opposition representing almost 700 000 people in the Western Cape. What we are saying is that, as an opposition, we will be effective and robust.
What is more important, is that Mr Trollip said that the leadership of the DA here represents all the people of the Western Cape. We want to challenge you, Mr Trollip, that the leadership here doesn't represent all the people. If you did, why do you have an all-male cabinet? Where are the women of the Western Cape if you are taking that position? [Interjections.] Do you mean that you are representing them? [Laughter.] Therefore, you can't speak in the way that you are speaking.
He continued to say that there was corruption in the Department of International Relations and Co-operation. No corruption whatsoever has ever been recorded in this department. If you have evidence, present it; we would like to attend to the matter. [Applause.]
The hon Rev H M Dandala raised an issue. He said that the Ministers in The Presidency must come here and educate parliamentarians on the issues of oversight and monitoring. Hon reverend, in terms of parliamentary processes and the institutions in South Africa, there is a separation of powers. The executive accounts to Parliament. You can't have a situation where the executive teaches parliamentarians on how to monitor and do oversight. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The other issue that he raised was that the President was supposed to have given details in his speech. Of course, hon Dandala, I think you would know that there are time limits on what you can do. Not only that, but there is a space and a time when Ministers are able to speak on their policy debates. You will get the details at that time. You can wait patiently. You will be able to get the information on what is going to happen. [Applause.]
Another issue was raised by the hon Rev Dandala. He talks about members of Cope who are hounded out of jobs and out of positions. People can talk about the issue of the vice chancellor of Unisa: If you'll recall, long ago, there was a disagreement, even then, between the then Minister of Education and the vice chancellor on issues. This government has not pronounced whatsoever on the issue of the vice chancellor.
Regarding the issue that Rev Dandala raised about Mr Nkhuhlu in the Eastern Cape, that issue relates to a difference between the MEC and Mr Nkuhlu. When Mr Nkuhlu was requested to come and account to the MEC as an executive authority, he could not do so. If he then defies an elected leader and does not want to account, what must one do? [Interjections.] Therefore, I think we must put things in context when we talk about this.
I would be happy if you presented empirical evidence to the Minister for the Public Service and Administration and myself. As we are responsible for governance and the administration cluster in government, we will be able to handle and process these issues. There is nobody, to our knowledge, who has been hounded because of their political affiliation. If there is evidence to that effect, please present it and we will take it up.
The other issue that was raised by hon Inkosi ... uMntwana wakwaPhindangene ukhuluma ngodaba lokuthi kube nobugebengu nenkohlakalo endabeni yokhetho. Manje-ke into esiyi shoyo uthi yena lokho kwabonakala ngokuthi ubaba unobhala-jikelele um hlonishwa, uMfundisi uZondi waye waseshwa.
Sithi-ke thina ngokomthetho wezwe lakithi, ukuthi abantu bayalingana ngaphambi komthetho. Okusho ukuthi amaphoyisa anelungelo lokusesha noma ubani uma kunento angayiboni kahle. Akukhethwa ukuthi uyisikhulu seqembu elithize manje ungayekwa ngalokho. Ngaleyo ndlela leyo sithi-ke thina, amaphoyisa enze ngendlela efanele - ngendlela ekufuneka kwenziwe ngayo ngoba siyalingana emthethweni welizwe lakithi ngendlela esibona ngayo. Kodwa ukhuluma ngendaba yenkohlakalo, umbuzo wukuthi: ubani oye waboshwa eboshelwa ukuthi kuye kwatholakala izinto zeKhomishane Ezimele Yokhetho futhi uphuma kuliphi iqembu ngizoshiya lowo mbuzo Shenge. [Uhleko.]