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.
Still in relation to you Mr Maynier, I want to go on to say that I am extremely glad you left the Defence Force as, quite clearly, you have given more to drama than to service. [Laughter.] [Applause.] Mr Maynier, does the term Chihuahua come to your mind? No, I'm sure it wouldn't. It comes to my mind.
I want to thank the hon Groenewald for his support. My wish is that you offer free lessons to the DA. You complain about the people who failed their navigation exams in my service. These have failed their navigation exams with distinction in understating what it is that this country is about. Please give them free lessons. [Applause.]
I want to respond to Mr Tolo. Mr Tolo, I take note of your concerns. I want to say to you that unfortunately your comments are misplaced here. We will have public hearings on the issue that the Deputy Minister is dealing with, and please feel free to place your concerns in that forum.
Ayanda, you said all that I wanted to say about military veterans. We can only assure you and the military veterans that they are in very good hands - between me and the Deputy Minister. [Applause.]
Mr Mlangeni, thank you for clarifying the matter that in fact the demand for the state of readiness of the SANDF is not a common request from the portfolio committee, but a position of the DA. If this is the case, then the DA is seriously abusing this House. The portfolio committee will be given such briefings at their request and not at the request of a particular party for whatever myopic reasons that they might want that briefing for. [Applause.]
Finally, I want to thank the Deputy Minister here for his support and endurance. I also want to thank the Secretary of Defence, and I want to thank my staff in the Ministry who have done an outstanding job. Chairperson, thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Source: Hansard, Parliament
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