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National
Assembly Cape Town: 19 June 2007
Madam Speaker:
I wish to briefly react to a statement made by the Hon Deputy Minister of Justice during the budget vote debate on 29 May.
The Deputy Minister said, and I quote:
"Now the Human Rights Commission has never taken a decision on this matter and has not placed a single report before this Minister. All we have is a
one-and-a-half- page letter from a junior official in that unit. " End of quote.
Madame Speaker,
In other words: Mr Johnny de Lange assured this House that the Human Rights Commission has never taken a decision on this matter and, secondly, has not placed a single report before the Minister, apart from the one letter.
The truth of the matter is totally different, Madame Speaker.
The Human Rights Commission has confirmed that the decision referred to by Mr de Lange is in fact a decision by the Commission, firstly, and secondly, I have copies here in my hand of correspondence by the Chairperson, Mr Jody Kollapen, with the Minister.
I also wish to inform the House that the HRC is so upset about the Minister's violations of human rights that they are currently considering to intervene in the High Court case against the Minister as amicus curiae.
Madame Speaker,
In conclusion,
It therefore appears that the Hon Deputy Minister has mislead this House.
The honourable Johnny de Lange who is known for making regular personal attacks upon members, has indeed demonstrated that he needs to learn a lot about humility.
Thank you
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