Mr Speaker, on this Bill all of South Africa came together. For the first time in my experience a Bill was looked at, was understood in its fine details, and the people of South Africa came here to Parliament, in the public hearing, with a united voice. They clearly said what they wanted. They said it aloud, and this Parliament is not delivering it. What happens when a parliament acts differently from what the people want? That parliament loses the legitimacy to represent the will of the people. On this occasion, there is a wide divorce between what the people want and what people are about to get.
We call on the President to refuse to assent to this Bill and send it back - failing which, to call a national referendum. We call on the colleagues of the ANC to vote by their conscience. I do not believe, Minister, that everyone here has the same view of this Bill as you. It is not normal and it is not acceptable that on a Bill of this nature the division is by party lines. A vote against your conscience is a vote against the Republic. We all took an oath when we came into office and that oath is to uphold the Constitution which requires of us not only to protect human rights, but also to promote human rights.
David Maynier put it very beautifully when he said that on this occasion we are failing our constitutional obligation to move forward the frontiers of freedom. We are rolling back the frontiers of freedom against the will of the South African people. In that sense, we are moving backwards where the opportunity was given to all of us to fix a Bill with simple provisions which are acceptable and internationally recognised and would have no harm.
What emerges out of this terrible situation is the arrogance of power, dismissing the voice of the opposition, killing the message because you don't like the messenger. Forget the messengers and focus on the message. We are just expressing what is said from the balconies and outside Parliament. As much as one may dislike where the message comes from, it is your responsibility to hear the voice of the people. You have failed the test of democracy on this occasion.
We sincerely hope the President, who is the final guarantor of the Constitution and our freedom, will intervene and not allow this Bill to be assented. We will support the petition to be sent to the Constitutional Assembly and we will oppose the Bill. Thank you very much. [Applause.]