It is a privilege to pay the tribute to my friend and colleague Professor Kadar Asmal as he leaves this House. The Professor is erudite - yes, often brilliant! He is unfailingly generous, witty, a skilled speaker who can hold an audience rapt and truly an Honourable Member of this House. The journalist Mathew Parris, who will be known to the Professor, once said, jokingly, I hope, that "politics feed your vanity and starves your self-respect". Professor Asmal is neither a vain man nor lacking in self-respect.  

That Professor Asmal grew up in Kwazulu Natal gave him, I believe, a sensitive understanding of the politics of Natal and the pathos of the Zulu nation. He recognized the complexity of the situation in South Africa. I was always impressed by his intelligent grasp of the political dynamics of this Province and which, sadly, gave rise to the political violence which marred relations between our two movements. I must say that even at the worst times, we were only political opponents, not enemies.

We know that while still a school-boy, Professor Asmal met with Inkosi Albert Luthuli. This encounter naturally inspired him towards a life dedicated to the pursuit of human rights. When the liberation history of South Africa is written up, Professor Asmal's name will be there in bold gold letters. On the occasions when he has recalled that I delivered the funeral oration at the funeral of Inkosi Luthuli, that was typical of his outspokenness, for that subject is today taboo in ANC circles.  

It was no surprise to us that while he was in London he started the British Anti-Apartheid Movement and later, when he joined the Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland as a teacher of human rights, labour and international law, that he started the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement.  

As a colleague in the Cabinet for 10 years none of us would fail to admire his work as a Minister. Ministers are given bundles and bundles of memoranda for Cabinet discussion just a day before Cabinet meets. I remember once President Mandela complaining at one of the Cabinet meetings which he attended. Referring to the numerous memoranda we had to go through. Mr Mandela said: "CANT THEY PREPARE SMALLER AMOUNTS OF THESE. THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR ONE HUMAN BEING TO READ ALL THIS!" Professor Asmal was known for being able to peruse not just the memoranda of his department, but also all the memoranda for all departments. He would comment about each one of them with full understanding as he had read it all. Some of the members had to call him "the Minister of all", because of his diligence.  

Fierce opposition to injustice and violation of human rights everywhere is written into the DNA of Professor Asmal. He must have an "anti-prejudice" gene! This shining commitment to human dignity characterized his service as a Minister after 1994 and, as well all know, extended to the protection of our fragile, but spectacular environment. I particularly am mindful of his outspokenness about the gravity of HIV/AIDS in Cabinet in which we served together until 2004. He was one of the few of us in Cabinet who still wore the HIV/AIDS insignia together with Minister Trevor Manuel, when it was no longer popular to wear it.  

Last year, on 5 October 2007, the Professor chided Robert Mugabe for the appalling situation in Zimbabwe. This tragedy, after all, affirms the Professor's insight that human rights are not conferred, but won. And after they have been won, they must be fought for to be maintained. We appreciated that there was one who was willing to live up to the unique anti-apartheid heritage that brought his party to power and to mirror its inherent morality in South Africa's current foreign policy. 

The Professor therefore can lay claim, like few can, to being consistent as well as being an honourable gentleman. How we shall miss him. We wish him and Louis all the happiness in the world in their new lives and the many glorious adventures that await them.