Transcript of speech by DA MP, Mike Ellis in the debate on President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address, Parliament, February 15 2010

Mr M J ELLIS: Mr Speaker, I certainly do not intend becoming involved in the antics of the hon House Chairperson and her attack on Cope, but would rather address myself to what we regard as a pretty important matter within the DA.

We were told that the ANC wanted the state of the nation address to be in the evening at 7 o'clock, so that the entire nation could be involved as it was to be televised live. The President, we were told, wanted to speak to the entire nation; men, women and children. Afterall it was 20 years to the day that Nelson Mandela had been released from prison.

Opposition parties were asked to endorse this decision, which we did, but made it clear that we expected to be given an opportunity, like the President, to speak to the nation, not just to Parliament.

We expected that the SABC would at least cover today's debate live on one of its channels. Regrettably, this has not happened. In fact, to make matters worse, the first part of the debate this morning was not even televised live on the DSTV Parliamentary Channel and we were told that the feed from Parliament was not available when we asked why. A question has to be asked why it wasn't available, and who decided that it would not be available.

Instead of giving the nation a chance to listen to the whole debate they were not even given an opportunity to listen to the leaders of opposition parties. I want to say how grossly unfortunate for the nation; how massively convenient for the ANC.

We do not doubt that the only reason why this could have happened is because the ANC did not want the nation to listen to the leaders of opposition parties. The reason for this is quite clear, because Mr President, your speech on Thursday night was so inadequate in content and delivery that it had given an opportunity for opposition parties to have a field day in response and certainly, the opposition parties have done just that. [Applause.]  

Let me say briefly to the hon Tsenoli who said earlier today that the ANC had taught opposition parties about democracy. I want to say to the hon member that if you call preventing opposition parties their share of television time, we are determined never ever to listen to that member.

But the truth is that the ANC, Mr President, has made no attempt to defend you today. They have abandoned you in this debate and it was obvious from the start when the list of speakers was drawn up for the first time and given to opposition parties. The ANC have done anything, but to put forward an A list of speakers today; no frontline Ministers; no senior ANC members - not even one. It is hardly even the B list of speakers that the ANC have put forward. It has been a parade of Deputy Ministers and relatively junior Ministers and members. There were one or two exceptions, but generally speaking that is a fact.

I have to say to these ANC members who have spoken today that they must realise that they are right down the pecking order when it comes to the seniority list in your own party. The heavyweights have sat back and done nothing, while the lightweight have been thrown in to defend their President. [Applause.]  

The only thing of any real consequence in this debate has been the many and constant references to the icon, Nelson Mandela. ANC speaker, one after another, jumped on the bandwagon to spend a fair amount of their speaking time on eulogising the great man, as you did yourself, Mr President, last Thursday night. I'm sure that ANC speakers have been remarkably relieved today to have something positive to speak about because certainly there was nothing from the speech on Thursday night.

When the hon Anthol Trollip spoke earlier, the hon Trevor Manuel asked us what we have been smoking. Let me say to the hon Manuel and to members of the ANC in general, stop worrying about what the opposition parties smoke, but rather about what your President, your colleagues and Cabinet have smoked, because quite frankly what you and your colleagues are smoking is not at all healthy for this nation. Thank you. [Applause.]

Source: Unrevised transcript, Hansard

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