Chairperson of the NCOP, hon M J Mahlangu; Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Peggy Hollander; House Chairpersons, Mrs Oliphant and Mr Setona; hon members and comrades from the ANC, this year was a momentous one and one of the busiest for our hon members and committees. The number of Bills passed by Parliament and the various oversight activities of our committees truly attest to the hard work of our hon members.
We have seen the conclusion of the first round of our programme of Taking Parliament to the People as we visited the people of Lady Frere, Chris Hani District in the Eastern Cape, possibly the last province in this term of Parliament since the launch of the programme of Taking Parliament to the People in 2002.
Therefore, I wish to pay tribute to all the people who contributed to the efficient functioning of this august House. In the first instance, I acknowledge the principled support and outstanding leadership of the Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Mahlangu, and the presiding officers, the deputy chairperson and the two House Chairpersons. I know that I can state without fear of contradiction that your firm but fair leadership during plenaries was the guiding light to all political parties and it deserves our gratitude.
As the Chief Whip of the Council, I wish to thank all the provincial Whips and the multiparty Whips for their leadership, co-operation and contributions. In that respect I hasten to acknowledge the role played by my predecessor, the hon Windvol, in constructing a strong foundation for the functioning of the Whippery in our Council.
I would like to take this opportunity to also acknowledge the parliamentary staff and the service staff for their professional and administrative skills in servicing the Table of the House. They make life easy and convenient for us by providing interpreting services during debates; compiling Hansard; processing legislation, questions and motions; and serving the various committees.
Hon Chairperson, I have no doubt that many of us here share my sentiments that we surely have a team to be proud of in the NCOP. Therefore, they deserve a special word of appreciation for their individual and collective contributions towards the success of our various programmes.
I firmly believe that through our collective efforts we have contributed to the creation of a better world, and that we, as members of this august institution, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, changed thousands of lives for the better. Each one of us made a direct difference in some or other way in the lives of the people of South Africa.
I am presumptuous enough to think that, with our efforts to create a better life for all the people of South Africa, we are performing a crucial function in an ever-changing and demanding world. Many of you have never sought to be more important than our country and the lives of those we serve. You have managed to accomplish your civil duties and constitutional mandate with dedication, zeal and commitment.
Looking back, we all realise that this was a demanding year. Parliament asks a lot of you and no matter how much you do, there is always more that needs to be done. And I must tell you there are still more Bills coming.
So, at the close of this year, I want to thank each of the hon members for giving of their talent and dedication and especially for making this House a family of communities.
I know that when we started here in 2004, we used to fight a lot. I am telling you, if you look back and note how we behaved during those days, we are now completely different from those people who did not know each other and were really at each other's throats. We all are behaving like human beings now!
As members of opposite parties, we would obviously try to negotiate the most for our own constituencies. However, we are still compatriots and fellow South Africans - a shared distinction which I value highly. It is the support and understanding that we give each other that help us through the long hours, the challenging tasks and the tough days. I sincerely thank you for that.
From the office of the Chief Whip, I know that we have focused all the powers from the team's combined strengths and skills that we possess and seized every opportunity to co-operate with hon members of this House who put the national interests ahead of partisanship. I therefore thank my own staff members for their unwavering support and dedication - and I truly mean that.
As we now say goodbye at this our last sitting of the year - of course, there are about two plenaries next year, hon members - and as we go out to spend a well-deserved period of rest with our families, I wish all our members and staff a very happy festive season. And for the ANC members who are residing in the Western Cape, let us win all these by-elections in order to win the province next year. May the Good Lord bless you until we meet again. Thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Chairperson, let me start by saying that I am honoured to be able to stand here in good health and in high spirits, participating in the debate on this topic for the fifth consecutive year. We are, indeed, all very blessed to be here and I wish to pay tribute to the Almighty for this and all the manifold blessings we receive daily, sometimes without noticing or realising it. The year behind us was filled with many highs and lows and I cannot think of a single dull moment. So, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to all of you for the part you played in making our plenaries and committee meetings vibrant and interesting - unlike the times of the previous Parliaments, which, I am told, were sometimes pretty dull and subdued.
I have prepared a festive message for many of you, as individuals and groups, but I thought I had six minutes. Now I see the Chief Whip took ten, so we only get two, but I will try to leave my nice message for all of you in two minutes by cutting out some of the things - unfortunately.
To you, Chairperson, I hope you've found the farm that you've been dreaming of. And, perhaps, as we are at the end of the year, it is a good time for you to contemplate ways of sharing all those distinctive parliamentary blazers, like the one you have been wearing lately in our plenaries, with the rest of our delegates so that we can also look smart in parliamentary blazers.
Our Deputy Chair, hon Peggy Hollander, I hope you have time to visit all those nine provinces that you speak of so often.
I have messages for the Chair, Chief Whip and everybody else, especially for the ANC, which is that I hope they will be able to cope next year! [Interjections.] The most important message must go to my colleagues for their wonderful support. In all seriousness, I wish you and all our delegates and colleagues the very best during the festive season and in the year ahead. May that wonderful message of Christmas that we all believe in find its way into your hearts and your homes, and into the hearts and homes of all your loved ones. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, today, as members of the NCOP, we lift our heads high in appreciation of the honour and privilege we have been given by God Almighty to serve our fellow Africans in whatever way He deemed fit. To Him we give praise and glory.
My personal thanks and that of my family go to the leader of my party, His Excellency Dr M G Buthelezi, who has been the gateway to the platform which I'm occupying now. He is a leader that can be trusted. I wouldn't be here had it not been for him.
On behalf of the IFP, great appreciation is extended to the hon Chairperson of the House, the hon Mr M J Mahlangu, who has been a father to us all in this House and unified us in diversity; the presiding officers who worked with the hon Mr Mahlangu, the hon P M Hollander, Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP; hon Mrs M N Oliphant, House Chairperson: Committees; hon T S Setona, House Chairperson: Oversight; the former Chief Whip, hon V V Z Windvol; the Chief Whip of the House, hon Ms N D Ntwanambi, and all hon members in this House and our staff.
The tasks performed by this House were not easy, but we tolerated each other in the service of our countrymen, countrywomen and our children. A lot more needs to be done to correct our failures - whether they were planned or unplanned - or celebrate our successes - where such existed. But these things are to be done with humility and honesty if we are to succeed in what we do.
Our country and the whole world face the challenge of a downward spiralling economy, worsening the abject poverty and hunger that we face. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals is going to be an uphill battle that calls for hard work, walking the extra mile in whatever we do and, still, humility, honesty and co-operation in serving our people are needed.
May all the hon members and their families enjoy the festive season between their busy schedules. To those who are Christians, may they enjoy a happy Christmas and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. To all of us, may we have a prosperous New Year and prepare for a vigorous campaign towards elections. I thank you. May God bless you.
Baie dankie, mnr die Voorsitter. Dit was 'n jaar van groot verwikkelinge op die politieke terrein, op die ekonomiese terrain, en, soos dit in die politiek maar gebeur, was daar op sommige terreine beter samewerking.
Daar was ook terreine waarop ons van mekaar verskil het as kollegas. Ek het nrens bitsigheid ervaar wanneer ons met ons kollegas van ander partye verskil het nie. Daar was wel skerp verskille, maar geen bitsigheid nie. Daar is 'n groot mate van kollegialiteit in hierdie Huis en 'n mens waardeer dit werklik. Dit was 'n aangename jaar gewees. Dit was lekker om saam te werk, Voorsitter. Ons gaan 'n baie veeleisende tydperk tegemoet. Van ons gaan na die verkiesing terugkom en ander gaan nie.
Hier is 'n groep wat wel gaan terugkom, en dit is die amptenare en die personeel. Hulle gaan terugkom en vir hulle moet ons baie dankie s vir wat hulle doen. Hul lojaliteit l grootliks by die instansie van die Parlement en ons is dankbaar teenoor hulle. Hier is 'n instansie hier anderkant wat ek pas ook by was, naamlik die biblioteek. Ek maak baie gebruik van die biblioteek en ek kry baie goeie samewerking en hulp van hulle. Van my kant af wil ek hulle ook bedank vir dit wat hulle doen.
Daar l 'n baie aangename tyd vir ons voor en ek wens u en al u kollegas 'n baie aangename tyd toe. Laat ons ook in hierdie tyd van welbehae dink aan die baie ander mense wat nie die voorregte het wat ons het nie. Baie dankie vir 'n aangename jaar en goeie wense vir u almal. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.) [Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: Thank you, Mr Chairperson. It's been a year of significant complications in the political sphere, in the economic sphere and, as is bound to happen in politics, in some spheres there was better co- operation.
There were also areas in which we differed with one another as colleagues. I never experienced any acrimony when we differed with our colleagues from other parties. There were indeed acute differences, but no acrimony. There is a great degree of collegiality in this House and one really appreciates that. It has been a pleasant year. It was nice to work together, Chairperson. We are heading for a very demanding period. After the elections some of us will be returning, and others not.
There is a group which will be returning and they are the officials and the staff. They will return and we must thank them very much for everything they do. Their loyalty lies mainly with the institution of Parliament and we are grateful to them. A service is rendered right here, and I was there just now, namely the library. I use the library a lot and I receive very good co-operation and assistance from them. From my side I also want to thank them for what they are doing.
A pleasant time lies ahead of us and I wish you and your colleagues a very good time. Let us, in this time of goodwill, also remember the many others who do not enjoy our privileges. Thank you for a pleasant year and good wishes to you all. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Thank you, Dr Van Heerden. On behalf of the presiding officers, may I join the parties to say we thank you all. You've been a wonderful team to work with in this Third Parliament. As you go into the festive season, as the Minister indicated earlier, enjoy your Christmas and spend time with your families. You have been missing them, I know. We have enjoyed working with you and you've been a lovely team.
Minister, particularly to you, I also want to thank you. Some people may criticise me but it is fine, I can put my head on the block for that. You are the one Minister who has never missed the activities of the NCOP. [Applause.] And I must congratulate you on that.
I remember a time when I forgot to invite you to Taking Parliament to the People. I received hot beans from you! [Laughter.] You just wrote a letter to me asking me why I didn't invite you. However, the keen interest you've shown in this House motivates us all. Therefore, we wish to thank you very much. You set a very good example and, as the members of the NCOP, we really appreciate that.
yesterday I was giving gifts to all members at the dinner yesterday and some of them couldn't be there. I will still give you your gifts even if you did not attend the dinner. Those who did not get their gifts should remain in the House after adjournment; the staff will give them their gifts, but we are not going to post it to you. Thank you very much, and enjoy going home.