Mr Speaker, Deputy President, Ministers, and colleagues, I first sat in this Parliament in 1994. In the past 19 years during which I have had the privilege of serving at the heart of our democratic order, I have seen three distinct phases.
The first I would call the phase of hope and fear. For the first five years of South Africa's new democracy our actions were defined by those two impulses. We saw the great potential freedom brought and, with it, the possibility that we might create, out of horror and prejudice, a new order, a testament to everything that is wonderful about South Africa. Mr Manuel, I want to thank you on behalf of the DA and all South Africans for your contribution in creating that new order. Your involvement in the United Democratic Front was a defining contribution, something that could never and should never be ignored and forgotten. [Applause.] With the new order came much fear, as the possibility of failure always generates doubt and insecurity. It was an age of great aspiration and great trepidation. We have done well, I think, generally to keep that hope alive and those fears fairly constrained. May I again say to Minister Manuel that his efforts, as our previous Minister of Finance, played a major role in achieving that. What we should always remember is the jittery reaction by the markets when you, Mr Manuel, temporarily resigned as Minister of Finance at the end of the Mbeki regime. That reaction was indicative of the high esteem in which you were held by those in charge of the economy of this country.
The second phase is best described as a phase of self-awareness. Over the next 10 years we came to understand that our hopes could not be instantaneously realised, that their realisation required hard work, and that our fears would be made very real if ever we neglected or failed to be vigilant in our duty. Often, we were. During this time, the true nature of those obstacles we had to overcome was quantified - a terrible legacy of poverty and injustice that is as daunting as it is disheartening.
To this end, Mr Manuel, we owe you a great debt of gratitude for, firstly, introducing a budget system that is regularly rated as one of the most transparent in the world and, secondly, for convincing your colleagues in Cabinet to accept your long-term plans for South Africa, of which the National Development Plan is the last. This is a plan that has the support of the majority of South Africans. It is a plan that can help us out of this cycle of poverty.
All this I have watched from a sporting perspective. Sport is my passion and my great love, and I know it is yours too, Trevor. We have differed about that on a few occasions. I think sport is a wonderful metaphor for our democratic journey. Few things better capture South Africa's potential for excellence and the realisation of our hopes and dreams than sport. At the same time, few things better capture our collective despair when those high ideals are crushed.
My colleague the hon Wilmot James wrote:
The best antidote to our fears and insecurity is excellence, so that when we take the risk to act, and succeed, it is then we confirm to ourselves and others that we are worthy.
That, I think, is a profound insight. Excellence is the answer to the question that we are grappling with in South Africa. If we want to overcome our low sense of self-worth and the decades of degrading treatment imposed on the majority of South Africans, we need to embrace excellence. We need to believe that we can be the best and then do it, set the standard and then exceed it. Can there be any better answer to self-doubt? Is there any greater source of confidence?
My party and I have always advocated for this. Our party policy, "The pursuit of excellence", is a testimony to this ideal. We do so because we believe every South African is first and foremost an agent, not a victim, and that, given the right opportunity, all South Africans can succeed.
So, I would like to leave this House with the following suggestion: Let us use sport to give South Africa the self-confidence it needs. Let us embrace excellence, not shun it. Let us make it the light that guides the decisions we make. Let us outlaw mediocrity and victimhood, and let us emphatically answer the question and show that we are a great nation, capable of great things. This is how we are going to dispel our doubts and realise our dreams. Excellence, indeed, is the antidote to our fears. Let us start to distribute the cure and stop comforting the disease.
Speaker, I was told that I had seven minutes. Now I see that I have 10 minutes. Let me use those three minutes to say ...
You do not have to. [Laughter.]
... farewell to all my friends in this place. I have friends here. I look at the Deputy Minister of Basic Education looking at me, and I look at Ms Sisulu looking at me, and I think of all the notes that we used to send one another [Laughter.] Then I also received a note one day, and I do not see Minister Connie September around, but I know exactly what she is going to do on 26 June, because I am going to do the same thing. I know what 26 June means to her. I have had many friends on both sides of this House. If I look back there at a very dear friend of mine, the hon Kora Dikgacwi, I would like to say that his contribution in the committee was really valuable. I do not see the hon Graham MacKenzie around.
However, I must really also recognise the people on the left, my friends and colleagues. The last 20 years here were wonderful years. They gave me the opportunity ...
... soos ons in Afrikaans s, om skouers te skuur met die groot geeste in ons land. Ek kyk hier voor na Dene Smuts, wat ook gaan uittree, en my aanvallige bankmaat daar, Anchen Dreyer. Dan kan ek nie vergeet om in haar afwesigheid ook vir die agb Lindiwe Mazibuko te s ek hoop sy word gou gesond nie. As ek so rondkyk, dan sien ek veral ons hoofsweep, agb Watson, 'n man saam met wie ek in 1994 hier aangekom het. Baie dankie vir jou vriendskap oor baie jare. [Applause.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[... as we say in Afrikaans, "om skouers te skuur", to rub shoulders with leading figures in our country. I am looking at Dene Smuts here in the front, who is also stepping down, and my charming bench mate over there, Anchen Dreyer. Let me not forget to tell the hon Lindiwe Mazibuko in her absence that I hope she gets well soon. When I look around, I notice our Chief Whip, hon Watson, in particular, a man with whom I arrived here in 1994. Thank you very much for you friendship over the years. [Applause.]]
I would like to turn to the Speaker now, and I know I will now have time. [Laughter.]
Yes, but you are really running out of time now! [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the example that you set in this House. [Applause.] Thank you for always being fair. [Applause.] Thank you for keeping order and sometimes calling us to order.
Finally, Mr Deputy President, thank you for the example that you set in this House. Thank you for the example that you set South Africa. Thank you ever so much. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President and hon Ministers who are here, I've got to say upfront that I was only informed at 10:00 this morning by your candidate, the ANC candidate, that I had to come and speak here. At that time she had not yet told us that she was appearing on your list. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
I am honoured to participate in this debate to bid farewell to the hon Minister Manuel, who I presume has decided to take leave of parliamentary politics. I'm saying, "take leave of parliamentary politics" because a political activist never takes leave of politics.
There are issues to do with Minister Manuel which are common knowledge to all South Africans. We all know that he was one of the longest serving Finance Ministers. We all know that he was faced with the challenge of steering the South African ship towards a stable economy. We all know that he navigated the National Planning Commission towards the production of the National Development Plan. We all remember how he moved from one caucus to another like a salesman to explain matters and get buy-in to the National Development Plan from all political parties. When this Parliament unanimously adopted the National Development Plan he knew that he had done his job of putting a common objective before the country and the nation.
We are unable to limit your contribution to this country only to your activities as a Minister in Cabinet. We all know that you participated fully in bringing the South Africa we are celebrating into being. Your role as a member of the Cape Areas Housing Action Committee is as important as your role as a government Minister. Your holding the United Democratic Front affiliates together during the Delmas Treason Trial is more than what you did as the Minister of Finance, because it was during this period that the Congress of SA Trade Unions adopted the Freedom Charter and there were all the problems that came with it. It was during this time that the struggle for nonracialism emerged as a prominent ideology against other views that were more about revenge and anger. You know that during that period it was not fashionable to be a varara [skollie].
I don't know whether you still remember how and where we met. Just to jog your memory, it was at Joanne Yawitz's house in Yeoville in 1985. Now you can put the pieces together. It was before you started going to detention as a regular activity, and when the struggle for freedom intensified. You were an inspiration to a lot of youth, particularly in the Western Cape. If you still remember, after your release and when restrictions were lifted somewhere around 1987-88, I came to see you, accompanied by a youngster called Allister. He talked about you continuously in a taxi from the station to your house and back. That's how he regarded you, as an activist and as a leader.
Your role during that time created many Allisters who are today holding different responsibilities in trying to make South Africa a better place for all of us. They might not be prominent individuals in political parties, but they understand that South Africa can only succeed if we all work hard in an honest and caring manner. Your exemplary behaviour during that period of the struggle against apartheid and now against poverty is worth being emulated. Your understanding that the poor do not have to be with us forever should be taken to wherever you are going. The struggle against inequality can be won. As humans advance, we need to understand that there will be many stages they will have to go through.
As a comrade and Minister you understand that to tell the truth is no art at all. In 1910 Theodore Roosevelt, whilst talking about the "New Nationalism", said:
National efficiency has to do, not only with natural resources and with men, but it is equally concerned with institutions.
As a Minister, we believe that you understood this very well.
Cope wishes you well in your future endeavours and knows that you will never tire of contributing to the wealth and progress of this country. We have no doubt that you will continue to ensure that what is enshrined in the Freedom Charter is realised. We bid you farewell and we hope that you will enjoy whatever you are going to do.
I also have to bid farewell to all ANC members who have to give way to others who came on your list via other political parties. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, Your Excellency Mr Deputy President and fellow members, I want to start off by thanking you, hon Speaker, and the scheduling committee for allowing us as members of this House to bid farewell to and say the kind of things that we have said about our two very committed countrymen. Thank you very much indeed. I hope, Mr Speaker, I will get injury time for saying that. [Laughter.]
About 14 years ago, when our Minister of Finance opened lines of communication with ordinary South Africans through the innovative "Tips for Trevor" campaign, we all admired his common touch. Minister Manuel was already the darling of struggling South Africans, for he was what we all wanted in a Minister of Finance. He was smart, accessible and tough.
Today we bid farewell to Minister Manuel and thank him for his long and distinguished service to our country. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the IFP, to "talk to Trevor".
Minister, your stewardship of our country has been admirable. You deserve every accolade bestowed on you today. I remember being in the audience and listening to you in a community hall in Mitchells Plain in 1990, when you were welcoming returning prisoners from Robben Island. I was in the audience on that day and I remember admiring this young man from the United Democratic Front who had so much hair - but now it's something different.
When President Nelson Mandela moved you from being the Minister of Trade and Industry to being the Minister of Finance in 1996, you took to the portfolio like a duck to water. It was a brilliant move for our country, predicated perhaps by the World Economic Forum's recognition in 1994 that you were called "the Global Leader for Tomorrow". That tomorrow came, but you became more than a global leader. You became a household name. You spoke a language we could all understand. That is not an easy task when it comes to economics. Many flaws can be hidden in economic speak, but you never did that. You are a leader by principle, who stood your ground, even when you disagreed with your own party and government.
The IFP applauded when you insisted that government cannot afford to borrow money to meet social expenditure. We admired your honesty when you said government must stop blaming apartheid and find the real reason behind poor service delivery.
We commended you for speaking out so strongly against government spokesperson, Jimmy Manyi, who sought to change race quotas and labour laws to reflect national rather than local demographics. Unfortunately, this is back on the cards with the latest regulations to the Employment Equity Act. Manyi's "surplus" of Coloureds in the Western Cape and his "surplus" of Indians in KwaZulu-Natal will bear the consequences. Prince Buthelezi wrote to you to thank you for opposing Manyi. He said:
Our nation owes you a debt of gratitude for your honesty, integrity and courage.
Undoubtedly though, hon Minister, your greatest legacy will be the National Development Plan. You excelled in the Presidency by creating broad consensus on the NDP. You convinced us that the NDP is the roadmap for the future. Now, it will be up to your party to convince its alliance partners to come on board so that this great roadmap can be implemented.
I will remember you, Minister, for your powers of persuasion and your great dance moves. I recall how you persuaded a colleague from the ruling party and me to support a special adjustment of R2 billion to be awarded to SA Airways in 2010. You overheard us during a committee break right at the back here expressing dissent, and you convinced us right there in the washrooms that South Africa had to save its own airline for the 2010 World Cup.
Minister, you will be sorely missed in Parliament. But we trust that your intellect and services will not be lost to our country. We thank you and we ask you to keep on dancing, not to populist tunes, but to the needs of the South African populace. Thank you. [Applause.]
Speaker, Deputy President and hon members, since we are one of the very few opposition parties that are stable, I should be able to bid you farewell, Mr Minister, without a heavy heart. I am greatly honoured by the privilege, on behalf of the UDM, to deliver a farewell speech to Minister Trevor Manuel.
Minister Manuel has been an outstanding servant of the people and, as a result, it is impossible for anyone to claim not to know him, given the number of lives he has touched during his terms in office.
Mr Minister, when you moved from Trade and Industry on 4 April 1996, you took charge of the finances of a South Africa that faced a compendium of complex challenges.
First, you had to help the nation to reconcile the contradiction between democracy and capitalism in a country where many people did not believe that the two could coexist harmoniously. Democracy, as you know, puts an emphasis on producing political accountability and on joint interests and equality, while capitalism entails the seeking of one's own self-interest. Through your outstanding leadership, you proved that the two can exist side by side when capitalism was given a more humane face.
Second, you took charge of the Finance portfolio of a country that had limited resources, whose people were still deeply polarised along racial lines and whose socioeconomic inequality levels were high due to the misguided policies of the past.
Working under the ruling party government, you adopted income redistribution policies that sought to achieve political and social stability in order to provide a secure context for economic growth.
Though the needs and demands of our country were numerous, your idealistic approach to meeting our challenges was invariably imbued with a deep sense of pragmatism.
You always ensured that in modernising our economy, the policy choices and responses government made were proportionate to circumstances and were sustainable. Nowhere is this more succinctly captured than in the legacy of fiscal prudence you left the Finance portfolio in 2009.
When I met Minister Manuel at the Union Buildings more than a year ago, during public consultations on the National Development Plan, he came across as a leader who was willing to subjugate his individual interests to those of the collective. I was truly inspired by the humility and outstanding leadership qualities of this intellectual giant. It is therefore not surprising that he leaves us today with the shining legacy of the National Development Plan.
Fellow South Africans, as a young person, the best farewell I can give Minister Manuel is peace of mind that we too will leave South Africa in an even better condition for both current and future generations.
Farewell, son of the soil. South Africans of all races are going to miss your outstanding leadership qualities in the public sector and your sheer dedication to your job. You have served our nation with distinction!
However, given your skills, knowledge, expertise, and the love and respect the people of South Africa have for you, as well as how much they still desire your services, as Abe Lemons once put it, "The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off." Thank you. [Applause.]
Dankie, mnr die Speaker. Minister Manuel, ek het 'n interessante storie om vir jou te vertel. En ja, dis ook 'n goeie storie. Die lewe het 'n manier om interessante draaie te loop.
Toe ek nog 'n student was, met die oorgang van Suid-Afrika na die nuwe bedeling, toe ek nog aan die destydse Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit, vandag bekend as UJ, studeer het, het ek eendag geskok geluister na 'n gesprek in die media waar u ges het dat u eerder die All Blacks as die Springbokke ondersteun. Ek het by myself gedink, wie is hierdie ministertjie? Hy moet reggeruk word. Hoe kan iemand so onpatrioties wees?
Daarna het die tweede skok gekom. Ek het ervaar, alhoewel ek toe min van die ekonomie geweet het, hoe u uitsprake gemaak het oor die amorfe mark met die gevolglike val van die rand met elke uitspraak, aldus die ekonomiese kenners. Dit het my ook aangegryp en ek het gevra, wat gaan ons nou omtrent hierdie minister doen? Ek was in daardie tyd in 'n gebedsgroep en het een aand naef gevra dat ons vir minister Manuel moet bid, sodat hy die regte goed kan begin doen en s.
Tot my eie verbasing het die agb minister daarna begin bou aan sy profiel as die beste Minister van Finansies in Afrika. Sy denke en uitsprake het verbeter. Ek het op 'n stadium begin wonder of u nie dalk die beste Minister van Finansies in die wreld is nie. So, minister Manuel, as jy ooit in die moeilikheid is, probeer gebed. Lyk my, dit werk vir jou.
Minister, dis inderdaad vir my ook 'n voorreg om hierdie afskeidsboodskap vir u te lewer. Ek het nooit gedink ek sou die voorreg h om dit te doen nie.
Minister, dis inderdaad vir ons 'n groot verlies dat jy weggaan. Ons hier in die opposisie het eintlik stilweg gehoop, ons het dit nooit hardop ges nie, dat u presidensile ambisies het. Ongelukkig het die hoop daaroor beskaam.
Ons is baie dankbaar vir die werk wat jy vir Suid-Afrika en sy mense gedoen het en dat jy ons op 'n gesonder makroekonomiese pad geplaas het. Ons sal ook jou kwinkslae, jou grappe en jou skerp intellek baie mis. Deur u toekomsgerigdheid is die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan onder u beheer geskep. Ons wens u alles toe wat mooi is en mag God se gebede en sening jou steeds agtervolg. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: Thank you, Speaker. Mr Minister Manuel, I have an interesting story to tell you. And, yes, it is also a good story. Life has a way of taking interesting turns.
When I was still a student studying at the former Rand Afrikaans University, today known as the University of Johannesburg, I was shocked to listen to a speech in the media where you said that you would rather support the All Blacks than the Springboks. I thought to myself, who is this little Minister? He must be put in his place. How can someone be so unpatriotic?
Then the second shock followed. I experienced, even though I knew little about the economy at that stage, how you made statements about the amorphous market, with the rand consequently falling after every statement, according to the economic experts. This also affected me and I asked what we were going to do about this Minister. At the time I was part of a prayer group, and one evening I naively asked that we should pray for Minister Manuel in order for him to start doing and saying the right things.
To my surprise, the hon Minister then started to build his profile as the best Minister of Finance in Africa. His thoughts and statements improved. At one stage I started wondering whether you were not perhaps the best Minister of Finance in the world. So, Minister Manuel, if you are ever in trouble, make an effort to pray. It appears to be working for you.
Minister, it is indeed a privilege for me to deliver this farewell message to you. I never thought that I would have the honour to do so.
Minister, it is indeed a great loss to us that you are leaving. We here in the opposition actually secretly hoped - we never said this out loud - that you had presidential ambitions. Unfortunately our hope was in vain.
We are very grateful for the work that you have done for South Africa and its people, and for the fact that you have placed us on a healthier macroeconomic path. We will also miss your quips, your jokes and your sharp intellect very much. Through your being future-oriented, the National Development Plan was created whilst you were in charge. We wish you well, and may God's prayers and blessings continue to follow you.]
Speaker, the ACDP would like to join other speakers in paying tribute to the hon Manuel, Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission. It was indeed an honour to serve in the Finance committee when Minister Manuel was the Minister of Finance. He was the longest serving finance Minister worldwide and guided state finance in an exemplary fashion, a great steward.
Indeed, it was only when I studied economics through Parliament that I realised what a remarkable job had been done by the then Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel. Historically, when liberation movements came into power such as in South America, government expenditure would shoot up to fulfil macroeconomic populist expectations. This often resulted in debt to GDP ratios that shot up and increased debt service costs. Some countries even had a sovereign debt crisis and social upheaval.
In contrast, Minister, as you are aware, together with President Nelson Mandela and, subsequently, President Thabo Mbeki, you embarked on a process of cutting government expenditure and debt to GDP ratios from a high of 50% down to almost 24%. This in turn released billions of rands which would have been spent on debt service costs for service delivery. It also cushioned us for the 2009 crisis.
It was always a pleasure to comment on the hon Manuel's Budgets, which even reached a small surplus at one stage. You will remember that, Minister Manuel. This indeed also happened for the first time in history.
I remember one occasion when I was preparing to address the television media after a particularly good Budget. Minister, I don't know if you remember this. You walked past with your entourage and you asked me whether I was going to criticise your Budget and I responded by saying, "How can I criticise you when you have just quoted Scriptures?"
I don't know if you recall, on that particular Budget Tips for Trevor, someone asked if their tithes to their church were tax deductible. You then said that, regrettably, this was not possible and paraphrased Jesus' words: "Render unto Caesar what is due unto Caesar and unto God what is due unto God." [Laughter.]
You have received a lot of criticism from certain quarters, even within your own party, and quite unjustifiably in my opinion. You bounced back in the Presidency, which I am sure was a huge surprise to many of your detractors and you led the formulation of the National Development Plan, a vision for the future of South Africa. The fact that all political parties in Parliament adopted this plan speaks volumes. It is indeed a momentous achievement and a rich legacy, ranking as high, or even higher, than the financial stability that you brought to our finances.
We honour you and wish you well in your retirement. We will miss you. If I were to quote a Scripture, it would be: "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matt 25:23.) You have indeed used your talents. We wish you well, but don't forget to quote Scripture. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon speaker, hon Deputy President, the man of the moment, hon Manuel, and hon members, this old boy of Harold Cressy High School on the Cape Flats is one of the worthy sons of South Africa. He holds five honorary doctorates because of his diligence in public office. Among his innumerable awards, hon Manuel was honoured as the best African finance Minister on two occasions.
He is a person who does not shy away when things go awry. Who can forget how he tackled the former CEO of the Government Communication and Information System Jimmy Manyi, on the question of racial quotas. Without going into detail, let me quote from his open letter to Jimmy. He started by saying:
Let us drop titles for the purpose of a necessary exchange. So let us forget for now that I am a cabinet minister and that you are a director- general equivalent, in the same government.
Thereafter, he gave this self-appointed ethnic anthropologist a solid lecture.
Having served as the first Minister of Trade and Industry in the democratic government of the Republic, Minister Manuel served as the Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2009, when he resigned after President Mbeki was ousted. He did this as a matter of principle so that the new President could apply his mind to constituting his government. Only a man of honour could do that and not take for granted that he would be retained in that portfolio.
In 2009, when he was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency responsible, or rather commissioned, for the National Development Plan, he made a good job of it. He consulted extensively and his leadership of that commission has given South Africa a legacy of self-discovery. When I rejoined this House two years ago, Minister Manuel led me by the hand on what the NDP is all about, by writing me a special letter, and then he sat me down and explained the whole thing so that I could catch up.
This is a man of great vision and a team player. Mr Manuel is one man who enjoys the respect of most, if not all Members of Parliament. I know a good number of people out there who saw him as a voice of reason.
When he decided at the Mangaung Conference of the ANC to step down as a member of the National Executive Committee of the organisation, many were disappointed, but we have to live with that. Wise men know when they have come to the end of their innings.
Good luck, hon Trevor. Be happy wherever you will be. You certainly will remain a repository of the values you hold, and trust you will pass them on to others in the country. That is what we want for all South Africans - excellence through hard work. Farewell, sir. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker, when a leader of Minister Trevor Manuel's stature steps out of the public domain, it leaves a colossal void. The office he occupied, both as Minister of Finance and as head of the National Planning Commission, placed our country on a strong foundation focused on service delivery. After 20 years_ of democracy South Africa expresses an immense debt of gratitude to Minister Manuel for steering our economy out of the wretched clutches of apartheid, into a system which the ANC now serves unfailingly.
The American scholar Warren Bennis once said, "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." Minister Manuel gave true value and impetus to those words. He created a vehicle through which we could achieve our political goals - the economic emancipation of our people. Life was given to our lofty political ideas by strategically navigating and co- ordinating a Finance department which put the principles of Batho Pele first.
The Minister's influence was so significant that when he stepped down in 2008, as you have heard, he unsettled the financial markets, showing that as an individual he inspired great confidence both within South Africa and abroad. This was further highlighted by his being tasked to head up an independent panel for the World Bank.
Not only did the Minister lead his departments successfully, but he laid down the foundation for his successor to continue the good work, putting systems and measures in place so that the department beccame more than just the person, and indeed an institution and a well-oiled machine.
However, the Minister's influence did not remain just in the sphere of economics. As a Coloured from Cape Town, he continued to stay grounded, and would stand up for his community when he felt they were being marginalised. This displays a type of integrity inculcated in few leaders.
Prior to our democracy, the hon Minister had the wisdom and foresight to see past the problems of the apartheid era. He envisioned a future where everyone could share in the rich abundance of this beautiful land. In seeing this he drove forward the policies of the ANC and serving as a true patriot. When you can see a vision of a better future, the resolve to overcome the current obstacles becomes obstinate. Similarly, after the problems faced during the struggle, Minister Manuel leaves behind a clear road map of national development for us, enabling us to take the baton and run the rest of the race.
Minister, the MF says that you are a true leader. We laud you for this astounding characteristic. Your personal legacy will be one of thoughtful leadership, undoubted service, unwavering integrity and a passion for this country and its citizens. For your immense contribution to this country, and to its people and collective future, we are indebted to you. With a great spirit of humility, the MF wishes you well. Go well.
Hon Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to speak in the House. [Laughter.] In fact, it is a great honour to be given the opportunity to pay tribute to you, hon Manuel, whom I normally call Trevor or Trev, because one is not often given this opportunity. I want to thank the leadership of the ANC for giving me this opportunity.
When we look at the hon Manuel, we seem to forget where he comes from. I hope people will want to listen to this. Yes, he comes from what is now known as the Western Cape. He joined the Labour Party in 1969, as did so many disciplined and loving children of their fathers, at the bequest and with the encouragement of his father. Then, like any young man, he looked at South Africa and he said: "Right, this is the Labour Party". And then there was the United Democratic Front - a few young people were talking together about the UDF. He actually got off his motorbike and said: "Guess what? I think this United Democratic Front is the way to go. It is the way to go because it is what we are all trying to do now," and he did it with conviction. You know what students are like - absolute conviction and passion - and then he got back on his motorbike, saying the churches, civic associations, trade unions, student organisations and sports bodies are all important. One may have asked him: "What other sports do you play, other than riding the motorbike?" These were all of the organisations that the hon Manuel was involved in. Then, in 1983 it was decided - this is it. It was really unplanned.
And this is the thing about the hon Manuel, he digs deep. I am a farmer's daughter and, you know, the knowledge of digging deep is so powerful. You dig deep, you nurture, you feed the soil and you actually surprise yourself at what comes out of it - yes, the United Democratic Front. [Applause.] Even today, as we sit here - yes, at a crossroads - we need to remember people like the hon Manuel, whom I know as Trevor.
As a clinical psychologist, when I had come out of a bomb blast, I found that they had decided to put me in Finance - Finance! What did I know about Finance? [Interjections.] But we had Trevor Manuel there in the background in Trade and Industry, the committee of which I now find myself chairing. And thank heavens I have learned one or two things since then - like how to use a calculator.
Then we found you, Trevor, telling us when you became Minister of Finance - out of your khakhi shorts, off your motorbike - to pull in our belts. What? We had to create jobs. I hope you understand that, Minister Manuel? We asked what you meant by, "pull in your belts". You said, "I am cutting the budget." And, yes, it was quite a draconian sweep of the sword. [Laughter.] You said you were cutting it, and that was it. You know, I thought what a far cry it was - from this jovial lad to what he had now become. And then he tried to explain that he had been brought to Gauteng, which was now becoming the province, you see. We wanted to discuss that with him. Jabu Moleketi was the then MEC for finance and also wanted to discuss his new approach.
We learned that we had to start thinking of serving our people. That meant we had to keep funds, and that meant we could not service debt only, and that meant we must not incur any more debt unless it was for constructive issues like something you could hold, not this consumable expenditure.
Half of us did not know what he was talking about but ... [Laughter.] ... we said yes. In fact I remember the DA was also saying yes. Everyone in there was just saying yes, yes, yes - the "three bags full" sort of thing. [Laughter.] Then I said, right, what is this? We found ourselves with the Public Finance Management Act and we marched ahead with the general's orders.
As chair of Gauteng Finance, I did not realise the implications of us as a province and that Parliament was higher than us, so I invited Parliament to join us on a study trip to Australia and New Zealand. Fortunately, I had a very understanding Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance of the National Assembly at that time who understood. You know how these people in the provinces are - let us just agree.
We went there - to Australia and New Zealand - and they were shocked to learn how far we had advanced in two years. They said, "But you know, we are not there yet and we have been going on this road for seven years." We said, "But we were following you." However, at that point we were ahead of them.
And Trevor was there. That was you, but you had disappeared and I could not see beyond where you were sitting. All I can say ... [Laughter.] ... is that you taught us sound fundamentals, and not only of good governance. You also said that if a country wanted to know your policy, they should read your budget and they would be able to deduce from it what you really cared about. He added to this by saying, "Since they would not even listen to me, Fubbs, check your budget. "Since then I have been checking it very regularly.
May I just say one thing, quoted from Okri - he said: "The new era is ... here." Thank you, hon Manuel, for bringing in the new era of sound financial fundamentals. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION: Mr Speaker, the hon Fubbs is always a hard act to follow, but I will try. [Laughter.]
Hon Speaker, Deputy President, ministerial colleagues and hon members, I want to express appreciation for the indulgence of this farewell and convey a particular word of gratitude to the Parliamentary Oversight Authority for affording us this opportunity. I am completely humbled by the many contributions made here this afternoon, so much so that my mother, who is in the House, probably doesn't recognise her son from all of the nice things that have been said here today. [Applause.]
On reflection, I want to say that it feels good to be part of that generation, that very special generation in the life of the nation that had the opportunity to bring down an old order and be involved in the construction of a new one. [Applause.]
There are a number of very particular highlights, some of them that have been reflected on, but perhaps the one that we must single out and go back to - because, for future generations, this will be the touchstone - was the adoption of our fine Constitution. [Applause.]
It is a truly magnificent document - not created and not forced on us by those outside, by any multilateral agency. It is ours, it is owned by us, it is the product of what we have been through, and therefore we must cherish it for what it is worth for ourselves and as the bridge to the future from where we have been. [Applause.]
As a Member of Parliament, I want to say that I have appreciated working with all members of all parties. I remain of the view, albeit naively so, that we are all bound together by the same oath to our Constitution that we take in this House. We may come at it from slightly different positions, but ultimately we take an oath of service and an oath of loyalty to our Constitution, and that should be the acid test of who we are and what defines us in our relationship with our people.
I don't believe that any person can come here and take the oath to the Constitution and be a racist and a bigot, and if they are off the mark, we have to help them back, because ultimately the test is that which is defined in the Preamble to our Constitution, which asks of us in perpetuity to raise the living standards of our people and free the potential of each person. It's not an option; it's an obligation imposed by history, defined in our Constitution. And when we gather in this House, we gather for that purpose.
So, for me, the ability to have served here for 20 years as a member of this august Assembly is an honour that I don't take lightly. It's an honour that I am privileged to share with so many, and with so many who have been part of this Assembly for the past four terms. I was sworn in as part of the first group of 10 MPs in this democracy on 9 May 1994. There were many greats. I don't know what I was doing there! When I look at the photograph of the occasion, I see there were people like Ma Sisulu, Joe Slovo, Madiba, Jay Naidoo, Thabo Mbeki, Cyril Ramaphosa, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. All of us were sworn in together as the first group of MPs. And it wasn't an honour that I could have dreamt of in any part of my life before that point. [Applause.] The question is whether we remain true to that.
One of the reasons I am very privileged to have my mom here today is that she was also in the House on that day, 9 May 1994. [Applause.] All of us as members had elected the first democratic President of the Republic, and the first Speaker and Deputy Speaker. We left here and went to the Parade to hear our newly elected President address the country. He said:
Today we are entering a new era for our country and its people. Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa.
That has been, in many ways, the genesis of what we will create as this democracy. I don't believe for a moment that it's something that ends. I don't believe that we can take a snapshot approach to the task of building democracy. It has to be ongoing because that statement by Madiba on 9 May 1994 contains, in fact, the profundity of the joy of responsibility to build that we all undertake.
So, for me, 20 years as an MP is a rare privilege. It is a rare honour to be called to serve in Cabinet uniquely by four successive Presidents - one of whom is here with us today, former President Kgalema Motlanthe. Only two of us who were called to serve in the first Cabinet remain - my benchmate Jeff Radebe and I. So, mngani [friend], you are on your own from now. I want to thank the ANC, obviously, and the four successive Presidents for their trust.
For me the 20 years has been a true journey of discovery of myself, of my colleagues, of my comrades, of my country, of the world - a discovery of possibilities and boundaries and, where the boundaries exist, identifying them so that together we can push them back.
I know that I leave here wiser than when I came. But, in that frame and in that vein, I want to ask all of us whether we really use this Chamber, and whether we understand the value of this Chamber, this Assembly, in the lives of our people in the way that we should. I want to mention a few examples, and I know that the swan song speech is meant to be uncontroversial, but forgive me - I am me.
Did we do justice to using this podium to explain to our people, each one of them, the impact of the 2008 crisis on their lives on a continuous basis - not to score points, but to say to our people that our Constitution requires of us to operate in a particular way?
I watched with awe the hon Fubbs lead a process in the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry just recently. It was a very important discussion on the way in which our people are impoverished through unsecured lending. The question I ask myself repeatedly is whether that debate should not have been on the floor of this House before legislation, so that our people understand that they deploy us here - each one of us - to take seriously what is happening in their lives.
I watch in horror what is happening in the Central African Republic right now. And I say "horror" because those moments of great joy for us as a nation born in April 1994 were the toughest times in the life of the Rwandese people when they lived through their genocide. We didn't even notice it happen. Of course, matters relating to the Central African Republic have been on the floor of this House, regrettably for what appears to be point-scoring. As we speak today there is a pogrom in Bangui. As we speak, we must be conscious of the fact that virtually every Muslim who was a resident of Bangui has been driven out. And we as a people who care, who want a caring democracy for ourselves, cannot be blind to the suffering of other Africans.
The floor of this House is fundamentally important in building our value system so that our people will know that we care as Africans and that we care deeply as people. This is because when we were in need as a people struggling for democracy, everybody else demonstrated care for us. So, the floor of this House, I believe, needs to be used more extensively to persuade each other and persuade our people of the values of our Constitution and the values that our democracy requires of us. We must know that we do carry the hopes and aspirations of every African. We can't ever be blind to those responsibilities. So I ask, provocatively, whether we use the floor of Parliament sufficiently.
During the 20 years I have been a member here all manner of things have, of course, happened to me, Mr Speaker. You told me not to say that. Madiba asked me to be the first Leader of Government Business. I was pretty useless at that. Not many people remember. Fortunately, the hon Koos van der Merwe is not here, because the Thursday morning meetings were very difficult then.
I was also an individual who flew in a plane that didn't look good for any Member of Parliament, least of all anybody coming from the ANC. I was berated and teased and reprimanded by this House. Fortunately, those planes don't fly any more - I forget what they were called - and the temptation has been avoided.
Gulfstream.
NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION: Not the Gulfstream. It was called the Concord. It was before your days of Romania. [Laughter.] I am afraid you have a one-track mind, sir. [Laughter.]
Then, of course, there was that car. The less said about it, the better and, hopefully, I will soon be relieved of that car and the privilege of driving in the luxury of that car. But that's another story. All of that was debated and shared here, and I want to say to all of you who teased and berated me: Thank you very much. I learnt out of the process. So, now we approach this next period. You know, I am amazed because people who are perfectly rational, Mr Speaker, jettison rationality on the eve of an election. I want to say that we must maintain our collective responsibility to all of our people, because this democracy and its ability to better their lives is something that we will wake up to after the elections when the new Members of Parliament have been sworn in, where the issues of poverty and inequality and unemployment will continue to dominate. So let's not destroy all rationality, all hope. We, as democrats, have the responsibility to serve our people to the best of our ability.
Of course I want to say thank you to all the present 400 members and to those who served before for the collegiality, and I want to thank especially some of the older members who were there to assist me and guide me. Tata Mlangeni, Tata Diale, Ma Njobe, Ma Ntuli - where is my old friend Aubrey Mokoena from the Release Mandela Campaign? - the hon Koos van der Merwe and a number of others. Thank you very much for that collegiality.
I also want to say thank you to the amazing public servants I have had the privilege of working with in all three departments I have served. I see here in the box some of those who served with me before in the Treasury. This speaks to a relationship that is very special.
There are also the personal staff that have served in the Ministry, and some of them have life sentences! There are two people with the surname "Smith" who are unrelated. The one joined me on 14 May 1994, and the other one on 16 June 1994. I don't know why they are still here! The person who has been with me for the shortest time has been with me for a mere seven years. So, this is an amazing group of people who have assisted me, carried me and allowed me to be.
These past five years have placed me in a position where I worked differently with an amazing group of commissioners in the National Planning Commission - great South Africans. I don't know what the political persuasions of those people are, but I do know that they want to serve South Africa and make this country great, and I want to say I owe them a debt of gratitude.
My sisters are represented here by one of them, and my sons are represented by the two here. Minister Sisulu always used to talk about my sons who used to sit there and sleep during budget speeches. [Laughter.] Now they are there and fully grown up, and I hope that they won't fall asleep during their father's speech today. Of course, my mother is very special and I am glad that she is able to be here.
I want again to express appreciation to the four Presidents. Pardon me for singling out the one President who identified some opportunity in me, nurtured me, corrected me when I was wrong, and gave me this amazing opportunity: Madiba. [Applause.]
Like with the Deputy President, the ANC flows through my veins. It's not a job. It's a belief system. And I will always remain a true, loyal and disciplined member of the ANC. And, hon Hajaig, yes, I will go to my branch meetings ... [Applause.] ... and pay my subscriptions, because none of this would have happened in my life without the ANC's affording me an opportunity to serve my people. [Applause.]
I want to leave with a short message from a writer whose work I have found very influential of late. His name is Tony Judt, and he says:
Something is profoundly wrong with the way we live today. For thirty years we have made a virtue out of the pursuit of material self- interest: indeed, this very pursuit now constitutes whatever remains of our sense of collective purpose. We know what things cost but have no idea what they are worth. We no longer ask of a judicial ruling or a legislative act: Is it good? Is it fair? Is it just? Is it right? Will it help bring about a better society or a better world? Those used to be the political questions, even if they invited no easy answers. We must learn once again to pose them.
Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
I thank the hon Minister Manuel. That concludes the farewell tributes. The presiding officers also wish to take this opportunity to wish you well, hon Minister. Also, when you change your cellphone number, please give me your new number so that we can contact you should we need you to come and help us and support us. Thank you very much, hon Minister.