Unrevised transcript of the reply by Lindiwe Sisulu MP, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, to the debate on her department's budget vote speech, July 3 2009
The MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: Chair, first of all I would like to thank all the hon members of the House who have supported the Budget Vote. I would now like to get to the specifics of some of the most ridiculous assertions that were made to the House here.
Mr Maynier, let me assure you that the quotation you took from Helen Suzman has no effect here (see speech). All of the hon members who are here do not like bullets, especially those who took bullets to ensure that this country is a free and democratic country. [Applause.] We took those bullets for you to sit there today. We don't like them. So, this doesn't wash with us.
You go on and give us a quotation that you would much rather give yourself to a cause that helps people who are homeless. We don't give ourselves to a cause for people who are homeless, we build those homes! This is what this government has done. If you are looking for a cause, you have certainly come to the wrong place.
I want to continue and say that quite clearly you had written your speech, and were unable to comprehend what was said. And we were all unable to deviate from such a speech because all the issues you raised - boarder patrol, state of readiness, etc - were raised and dealt with comprehensively in the speech (see here).
The rhetoric of the hon member is completely misplaced. I want to suggest to the DA that perhaps they should have given him another place to cut his teeth instead of this particular platform. [Applause.] This is because in the Defence Budget Vote we have no place for theatrics. We have serious business to deal with here. We have the issue of security of this country to deal with.