We believe that officials should be appointed on merit. We also believe that they should be true servants of the people who understand the concept of stewardship of state resources, and that resources are not there to be stolen or to be misappropriated.

So important is the judicial independence, that the removal of a Judge can only be justified when the shortcomings of the Judge are so serious as to destroy confidence in the Judge’s ability to properly perform all the judicial functions.

We need to be very sober-minded as we consider the implications of today’s impeachment. We are not only impeaching for the first time a Judge, but a Judge President of the High Court.

The World Trade Organisation Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks, including South Africa’s.

This pension reform, which permits fund members to access a portion of their savings during a crisis, will strike a balance between long-term security and immediate needs, recognising life’s unpredictability.

The ACDP longs to see peace between Israel and Palestine but this won’t be possible until the right of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders has been acknowledged and agreed to.

“The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance up you and give you peace.”

While government has implemented numerous programmes to support small business growth and development, the mountain of regulations are limiting. We should not allow millions of SMMEs to be held back from reaching their full potential due to red tape.

Increased incidents of loadshedding and Transnet’s logistics crisis have significantly impacted on corporate tax collections, and these are issues we can address.

The ACDP does not support preferential procurement provisions which have contributed to state capture and corruption and have grossly inflated government contracts.

The Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill seeks to convert a R254 billion Eskom debt relief package from an interest-free loan to one that will bear interest.

We find it totally unacceptable that the state would not want to compensate poor women who have complications with childbirth resulting in children either dying or being born with Cerebral Palsy.