Proceedings at joint sitting (стр. 3 )

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... and the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP...

Mr M G P LEKOTA: On a point of order...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa; former President Thabo Mbeki...

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, on a point of order...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng ...

The SPEAKER: I have already said that I will not take any further points of order. [Interjections.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, may I rise on a point of order?

The SPEAKER: No, hon Lekota. I appeal to you to take your seat to allow the President to proceed to deliver the state of the nation address.

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, I...

The SPEAKER: I prevail on you, hon Lekota, to take your seat.

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, I’m rising specifically and...

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota...

Mr M G P LEKOTA: ... precisely on that point. Please, Madam Speaker!

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota, I appeal to you to take your seat.

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, may I rise on a point of order? You can’t rule me out of order before you hear...

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota, on the basis of what I have already explained, I am prevailing on you to take your seat and allow the state of the nation address to be delivered.

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, there is a point of order in these proceedings. May I please state my point of order? [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota, please take your seat.

Mr M LEKOTA: May I state my point order? [Interjections.] You may rule against it, but I want to state it. I want to state it and you can rule against it.

The SPEAKER: Hon President, please take your seat. [Applause.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Madam Speaker, the hon President has already admitted before our nation in the Constitutional Court... [Interjections.] ... that he broke his oath of office. [Interjections.] No, I must say this. He broke his oath of office. He is no longer honourable... [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota...

Mr M G P LEKOTA: ... to deliver the state... [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota... [Interjections.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: No... [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota, that is not a point of order. [Interjections.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: We cannot listen to somebody who has broken his oath of office. [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, hon Lekota. [Interjections.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: We cannot sit here and listen to him. [Interjections.] He is no longer fit to lead our people. [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota, will you leave the Chamber?

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Excuse me?

The SPEAKER: Will you leave the Chamber?

Mr M G P LEKOTA: If you are saying... [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: ... because that is not a point of order. [Interjections.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: That is a point of order - he has broken his oath of office.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. It has nothing to do with the proceedings of this sitting.

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We will not listen to somebody... [Inaudible.] [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: So, you are free to leave the Chamber. [Interjections.]

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Thank you. Thank you very much. [Interjections.] We cannot listen to somebody... [Interjections.]

The SPEAKER: Hon Lekota... [Interjections.] [Applause.]

Mr V E MTILENI: Ndzi kombela ku vulavulanyana. [May I be afforded the opportunity to speak?]

The member thereupon withdrew from the Chamber.

The SPEAKER: We note that all the members of Cope have left the House, and we now ask the hon the President to proceed with the state of the nation address. [Applause.]

The President of the Republic continued his address as follows:

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Thank you, Madam Speaker. All esteemed members of the judiciary, President of the Pan-African Parliament Mr Roger Nkodo Dang, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, premiers and speakers of provincial legislatures, Chairperson of the SA Local Government Association or Salga, and all executive mayors present, the heads of Chapter 9 institutions... [Interjections.] ... Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, leaders of faith-based organisations, former Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Frene Ginwala, invited guests, veterans of the struggle for liberation, members of the diplomatic corps, and fellow South Africans: good evening, sanibonani, molweni, dumelang, goeienaand, lotjhani... [Interjections.] [Applause.] ... riperile, ndimadekwana.

Thank you for the opportunity to address Parliament and the nation. Today marks the 26th anniversary of the release of President Nelson Mandela from prison... [Applause.] ... which was one of the most remarkable episodes in the history of our country. It is also the 50th anniversary of the declaration by the National Party regime that District Six would be a whites-only area, leading to the forced removals of more than 60 000 residents. The year 2016 also marks the 20th anniversary of the signing into law by President Madiba of the Constitution of the Republic. The signing took place in Sharpeville on 10 December 1996.

We are proud of our democracy and what we have achieved in a short space of time. Our democracy is functional, solid and stable. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

Compatriots, the Constitution, which has its foundation in the Freedom Charter, proclaims that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. A lot has been done to promote inclusion and a nonracial society. However, the journey to a nonracial society has not yet been completed.

The nation was shaken last month when racism reared its ugly head on social and electronic media, causing untold pain and anger. There is a need to confront the demon of racism. Human Rights Day, 21 March, will be commemorated as the national day against racism this year. It will be used to lay the foundation for a long-term programme of building a nonracial society.

Compatriots, I would like... [Interjections.]

Mr G A GARDEE: Madam Speaker, in terms of Rule 14(c), may I raise a question of privilege? The President has spoken, and the matter I need to raise is materially relevant to what the President has spoken about. Madam Speaker, could the President sit down so that I can raise a point of privilege? [Interjections.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon President, please take your seat.

Mr G A GARDEE: Thank you. Sit down, Mr Zupta.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee... Hon Gardee...

Mr G A GARDEE: The issue that is materially...

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee, hon Gardee...

Mr G A GARDEE: ... relevant and is a question of privilege is ...

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: On what point are you rising?

Mr G A GARDEE: It is 14(c), a question of privilege. A matter that is materially relevant to the paragraphs that the President has already read. The question here, Madam Speaker is: in four days we had three Ministers and the unprecedented reaction of the market that actually cost the country R500 billion. Four paragraphs have been read and the President has not said anything. Can he...

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee... Hon Gardee...

Mr G A GARDEE: [Inaudible.] ... that he is going to raise the matter.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee, you said you were rising on a point of privilege. You also said it was relevant to what the President... [Inaudible.]

Mr G A GARDEE: Very, very relevant – R500 billion gone, Madam Chairperson.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee?

Mr G A GARDEE: I’m listening, Madam Chair.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: I have not heard the relevance to the current debate on the point of privilege that you are quoting.

Mr G A GARDEE: Maybe I should repeat myself, Madam Chair, so that you can hear me well. [Interjections.] The President has read almost two pages but has not said anything about the loss of R500 billion – having three Ministers in four days...

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee...

Mr G A GARDEE: ... unprecedented... [Inaudible.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Hon Gardee, you have not raised a point of privilege. Please take your seat.

Mr G A GARDEE: Okay.

The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: Thank you. Hon President, please proceed.

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: The nation was shaken last month when racism reared its ugly head on social and electronic media, causing untold pain and anger. There is a need to confront the demon of racism. Human Rights Day, 21 March, will be commemorated as the national day against racism this year. It will be used to lay the foundation for a long-term programme of building a nonracial society.

Compatriots, I would like to remind you of a few other important anniversaries. The year 2016 marks 60 year since the Women’s March to the Union Buildings to demand an end to the pass laws.

We are happy to have in our midst... [Interjections.]

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... Ms Sophie de Bruyn, who was among...

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker?

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... the heroic leaders of that historic march. [Applause.]

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker?

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: We also acknowledge the former president of the Black Sash...

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker, point of order.

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... Ms Mary Burton. [Applause.]

Mr M S MBATHA: Point of order, hon Speaker.

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: We acknowledge the organisation’s track record... [Inaudible.]

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... in fighting for human rights, justice and equality.

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: This year also marks 40 years since the landmark June 16 student uprising in Soweto. [Applause.]

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: We welcome...

Mr M S MBATHA: Hon Speaker...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: ... photographer who shot the famous photograph of Hector Pieterson carried... [Applause.]

Mr M S MBATHA: Chair of the NCOP...

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Mbuyisa Makhubu with his sister Antoinette... [Laughter.]