Give govt due respect - Gaum

2005-02-15 22:38

Mandy Rossouw

Cape Town - New National Party MP André Gaum pleaded with whites, in particular, on Tuesday to give the government more recognition.

He asked the government, in turn, to handle the language issue in schools with more caution.

Speaking during the State of the Nation debate, Gaum said the different language differences in schools should also be promoted in accordance with the constitution.

He said there was a need to deal with the handling and accommodation of language in our schools - "for the sake of tolerance and unity in diversity".

"South Africans from minority groups, namely Afrikaners, should give more recognition to the government for what it has achieved ... recognition to a president who is the architect of the economic wonder of South Africa," he said.

This statement was greeted with applause from the African National Congress benches.

Lekota grins broadly

"Many South Africans ... must admit they are living a better life under this government than ever before," he said.

While the Democratic Alliance MPs scorned Gaum, Defence Minister Mosiua Lekota, architect of the ANC/NNP merger, grinned broadly.

The NNP is expected to merge completely with the ANC after local elections scheduled for later this year.

- Beeld