Order! Hon members, I have been informed that the Whippery has agreed that there will be no notices of motion or motions without notice today. I would like to take this opportunity, therefore, to welcome the President of the Republic of South Africa to this sitting of the NCOP.
However, before I call upon the President, I also want to acknowledge, in the gallery, the presence of a delegation from Nigeria, led by His Excellency Vice President Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole. Hon members, you are now welcomed - all of you - to the NCOP. [Applause.]
I have been told that there are quite a number of people from nongovernmental organisations sitting in the gallery. I also wish to welcome them. You are most welcome to the NCOP, as is everybody seated in the gallery.
I now call upon the hon President of the Republic of South Africa to deliver his annual address to the NCOP. This is the first address, Mr President, in the Fourth Parliament that you will be delivering to this House. Thank you, Mr President. [Applause.]
Mr President, there is a ... What do you call this thing? [Interjections.] A podium. [Applause.] Well, you may have forgotten that, because I am a reverend, I thought this was a pulpit. [Laughter.] But I'm told that it is not a pulpit. I nearly said "pulpit".