MR J H van der Merwe  MP

I want to refer to a statement by the Hon Deputy Minister of Justice during the Justice budget vote debate on 29 May, in which he sarcastically said, and I quote: 

"The Human Rights Commission itself, which, if you don't know that, Mr Van der Merwe, is all the commissioners on the commission. That's the Human Rights Commission. Really!" 

"Now the Human Rights Commission has never taken a decision on this matter."
 

Madame Speaker, 

I have the proof here in my hand that the Hon Deputy Minister mislead this House with his statement. 

The Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission has confirmed to me that the decision was in fact a formal finding by the Human Rights Commission. I have the letter here in my hand. 

Madame Speaker, 

The proof I presented here today cannot be challenged. The Deputy Minister mislead the House. 

In conclusion. 

I wish to state that a certain word I used in this House on a previous occasion to describe the Hon Deputy Minister,  remains as accurate today as it was then. It is in fact the perfect abbreviated CV for him! 

Thank you