MPs who returned to Parliament this week to fine-tune controversial equality legislation were sidetracked on Tuesday by the new millennium and the state of the country's postal service.
The Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging's sole MP in Parliament, Cassie Aucamp, told fellow MPs he didn't want to start the new century in Parliament on a negative note by complaining.
However, he had not received a copy of the new draft of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Bill during the recess, and was unable to prepare thoroughly for Tuesday's committee meeting.
Chairperson of the special committee dealing with the legislation, Mohseen Moosa, insisted that the committee's clerk had sent copies by courier and express post to all MPs' home addresses and constituency offices.
Aucamp quipped: "Just the other day I received one of Paul's Letters to the Corinthians. The post takes longer these days."
The Inkatha Freedom Party's Jeanette Vilakazi had more pressing matters on her mind.
Wishing her colleagues a happy new millennium, she said: "Those I crossed in 1999, I bury the hatchet." This was particularly appreciated by ANC MPs.
Vilakazi then made an impassioned plea for age to be included as a prohibited ground for discrimination, along with race, gender and disability.
Meanwhile, Moosa warned MPs that a lot of work still had to be done to fine-tune the bill, which is one of three pieces of legislation that must be promulgated by February 4 in terms of the Constitution.
"I'm under no illusion about some of the problems that exist. We have a very difficult two weeks ahead," he said.
Aucamp was unhappy about the redraft and said he thought it would be made shorter and simpler.
"It's still too much detailed social engineering." - Sapa