The Presidency - Budget Vote 1

Speech by Dr KRJ Meshoe MP – ACDP

Tuesday, 18 June 2002

In Parliament today Dr. Kenneth Meshoe MP and Leader of the African Christian Democratic Party gave the following speech during the Presidency, Budget Vote 1:

Many South Africans who have been following discussions and news on the African Union are aware that there are some differences between what our President envisions for Africa and what the Libyan leader, Muammar Gadaffi has in mind. In today’s Citizen newspaper, it is reported that Mr Gadaffi has championed the vision of “an Africa free of the shackles of the World Bank, IMF and other institutions of international finance and trade as an attractive proposition.”

It is further reported that “Mr Gadaffi has been using his influence and his oil money to undermine NEPAD and your concept of the African Union with other African leaders, notably, those out of step with the global economy.”

What we all want to know, Mr President, is whether you and Mr Gadaffi managed to fuse your two concepts when you met last week or what is the latest? You need to have as many South Africans as possible to endorse your concept and vision of Africa. For this to happen, it is important that you do not leave ordinary voters behind. I agree with those who say NEPAD and the concept of the African Union has not been properly introduced to ordinary citizens on the ground. There needs to be proper debate, not only among politicians and intellectuals, but also among ordinary South Africans whose lives will be impacted by the ensuing relevant decisions.
During the past few days, there has been different reactions to the reply that the deputy President gave to our member, the honourable Cheryllyn Dudley, when she read from a LoveLife publication, TethaNathi, which among other things, advised the readers, in this case, young school children, to have oral sex. She further asked the deputy President whether such material was going to help the HIV/Aids situation. His reply was, and I quote him, “I can’t answer on wrong things that people do that are unnatural. I can’t talk about that.”

This reply has left many people bemused, because of government support of LoveLife. Why does government support organisations that promote ideas that undermine their values? Why should children be expected to talk about what the deputy President does not want to talk about? The President must come out clearly on this issue. Does he agree with the LoveLife CEO who is reported to have said that “oral sex is emphasized in the campaign as a safer alternative to unprotected penetrative sex?” What about abstinence? Why is our government part of a strategy that is destroying the morals and future of African children? Why talk about the need for a moral regeneration when leaders in this government are supporting organisations that promote moral degeneration?

The levels of rape of minors reported in our schools and homes have never been experienced in this degree before. In today’s Citizen newspaper, for example, there is a report about three boys, aged between seven and eleven years old, who allegedly raped a six year old girl at the back of her home in Verulam, north of Durban, last week. Almost everyday one hears or reads about babies and school children that are being raped. When and how is this going end, Mr President?

I want to appeal to you, Mr President, to love our children enough to protect them from individuals and organisations that are destroying and undermining their innocence, especially little black children. Children must be protected from pornography and other obscene materials. They must be protected from immorality that is flooding our homes via the television. Displaying an age restriction on the screen does not help parents who have lost the authority over their children to the state. Some parents are told that it is a form of abuse when they try to stop their children watching harmful material on television. Such parents are caught between a rock and a hard place. What are they supposed to do? Such parents need your help and intervention, Mr President.

I agree with the honourable Modise who said that research shows that over exposure to violence tends to make children more violent. I must also add that exposing young children to immorality and promiscuity will make them immoral and promiscuous. So it is in your power, Mr President, to remove pornography from our television screens and stores. For the sake of our children, you need to do it.

Established democracies like America, U.K. Canada and Australia do not have immoral filth during their open television viewing time that we have in this country. So those that would like to defend such filth on our screens cannot do it in the name of democracy. We love our children enough to say pornography hurts them and it must, therefore, be removed from society.

Mr President, sexual harassment within the corridors of parliament should not be tolerated. One of our members was recently subjected to humiliating sexual suggestions, and we are expecting parliament to do something about it. There are many things that are said from the podium and from the backbenchers that we disagree with. Yet, we treat all members with the respect that they deserve. I agree with Madam Speaker that it is worrying to see how some members in this house attack each other’s person instead of just dealing with the issues, raised by the person. Although, I am serious about the issues that I have raised this afternoon, I nevertheless do not expect everybody in this House to agree with me. What I do expect, however, is for members to allow me to state my case and then contradict me later should they so wish. Members of this Parliament must learn to play the ball and not the person.


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For further comment please call Dr. Kenneth Meshoe MP at (021) 403 3521 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037