Thank you very much hon Chairperson. [Applause.]
Sesotho:
Ke isa hlompho ho wena Modulasetulo wa rona wa Khansele ya Diprofense. Ke ise hlompho ho ditho tsohle tsa Ntlo ena. Ke hlomphe bohle ba tswa diprofenseng bao e leng barumowa ba ikgethehileng. Mme hape, ke hlomphe difosiri tsa tshebeletso tsa rona tsa Ntlo ena, ke ba bitse ka mabitso ka ho qolleha: Ntate Brent Leeuwendaal, Ntate Freek Erasmus, le Mme Moira Foster. Ke kopa re fe Brand, Freek and Moira matsoho hle! [Applause.]
English:
Can we please ... [Applause.] ... report nicely on the service that they provide to us on a daily basis, by even helping us to recover some of the items that are important to us after our sittings.
As we may be aware, the family of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, hon Jackson Mthembu, has suffered another painful setback with the untimely death of his daughter, Ms Khwezi Mthembu, who will be buried over this weekend. I deem it fit, on behalf of the House, to express our heartfelt condolences to the Mthembu family during these trying times.
This occasion of our farewell speeches takes place at a time when the memories of human tragedy and devastation, occasioned by the natural disaster against the peoples of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, are still fresh. This tragedy, which is estimated to have killed over 750 people, will forever remain in our history as one of the greatest natural disasters that has undermined Africa's renewal and development in the 21st century.
It is against this background that I once more beg for your indulgence by allowing me to take this opportunity, on behalf of the ANC and the people of South Africa, to express our solidarity with the governments and the peoples of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi under these trying times. We salute our government and other governments within the AU and the southern African region, the Southern African Development Community, SADC, for extending their generous assistance to these countries. The presence of our national flag through the SA National
Defence Force in the rescue and reparation operations in these countries should indeed be a source of pride about South Africa's leading role in forging and deepening African solidarity.
Our farewell messages in this last sitting of the National Council of Provinces in the Fifth democratic Parliament is indeed a special and historic occasion. It comes with the painful moment of truth in our individual and collective lives. For some of us it may be a temporary break and a transition into the Sixth democratic Parliament as representatives of our people, and for others, assignments in different areas. The painful aspect associated with this moment of truth can only be explained in military terms, as military scientists would argue that in a situation of war there is no nation that summons its entire army to the battlefront. Others remain as reserves, while others are assigned to different auxiliary functions. This is the plain truth about our call of duty as politicians and selfless servants of our people. We serve at the pleasure of our political parties, and today is the time when our democracy demands the renewal of political mandates, assignments and reassignments to serve our country and her people.
Whatever the future holds in store for any of us, we should look back over the past five years of service as members of this august House with a great sense of pride. Our individual and collective response to
heed the call of duty to serve our people will permanently feature in the archives of history with an inscription of, an honour to serve.
The National Council of Provinces is our second House of Parliament that occupies a special place in the battle of ideas for the building of a national democratic society. It will therefore be a serious dereliction of duty for us as members of this House to simply come here and extend messages of farewell to each other without touching on the state of our politics and institutions of democratic governance in empowering our people as architects of their own future.
We do this not out of affinity or theoretical debates but because history demands that we constantly reflect on how our politics, governance and democratic landscape continues to empower our people to be architects of their own future. Antonio Gramsci reminds us that in politics the masses do not exist in a vacuum, but in so far as they are organised and mobilised into action by political parties.
As critical social agencies for political leadership, societal change, transformation and development, political parties determine the behaviour and performance of government, and are the ultimate forces in shaping the behaviour of the electorate.
The greatest threat to our democracy in the twenty-first century is the persistence of the trust deficit in the ability of political and corporate elites to address the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality. This trust deficit accounts for the persistence of political apathy among the overwhelming majority of the electorate, especially among the youth. This presents a compelling case to the leadership of any country to continuously reflect on the nexus between their politics, governance and the masses.
Throughout history, the ANC has placed a high premium on the masses as the decisive factor critical to the victory of our national democratic revolution. The significance of the masses as the architect of their own future is a collective heritage of our struggle that resonates with the fundamental values and principles of our Constitution as the supreme law of our country.
At the beachhead of the ANC, democratic transition has always meant the fundamental transformation of patterns of ownership, and the management and control of the commanding heights of the economy. All of us know that the ANC-led government has designed and adopted policies and legislation to give effect to economic transformation. Our Parliament has further commissioned ... in fact, Chairperson, this includes among others, to cite but a few, the Preferential Public Procurement
Framework Act, the Affirmative Action Policy, broad-based black economic empowerment, the Competitions Act, the national minimum wage, the National Credit Act amendments that address debt relief, and the Public Audit Amendment Bill.
These are pieces of legislation critical to the lives of our people that have passed through this House.
Our Parliament has further commissioned a high level panel on the review of the impact of the legislation on the lives of our people. This panel conducted an extensive public participation process to receive the inputs of our people and other critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of our country.
The overwhelming majority of our people identify with the policy and vision of the ANC not only on the basis of superior logic, but also as the articulation of their own voices.
The challenge of greed and corruption that has permeated our public and private sectors has not escaped our attention. We have learnt great lessons from those countries that were liberated before us, hence our strong, robust anti-corruption legislation and institutions. The commission of enquiry into the allegation of state capture and other
sectoral commissions of enquiry established by President Ramaphosa are an assurance to our people of our unwavering commitment to fight corruption. We might have not perfected the art of governance and transformation but, with time, we will be in a better position to ensure that the democratic state and its institutions are the collective property of our people, not that of a few elites.
This is central to the strategic task of renewal adopted by the 54th conference of the ANC.
We have listened to our people, and are continuing to do so and understand their fears, hopes and aspirations about the better future we seek to build. In doing this, we have not concealed the truth, irrespective of how it hurts us. Like today, it is the ANC that is at the frontline of public debate, acknowledging the poor performance of the economy and the current challenge of loadshedding, with the view towards finding sustainable solutions.
Hon members, one of the architects of South Africa over the last 25 years is the common commitment and allegiance of her people to the Constitution as the unifying vision about the future we seek to build. United in diversity, our constitutional dispensation has gone through
many trials and tribulations to become a living document for a better future in the eyes of the overwhelming majority of our people.
In pursuance of the strategic vision of the activist Parliament for a better quality of life for all, the NCOP has, among others, intensified its efforts in facilitating dialogue between the three spheres of government and deepening the dialogue with our communities through our flagship programmes. We bear witness to that, hon members.
The quick question that must still enjoy urgent collective attention in the sixth democratic Parliament is how we deepen the unique identity and role of the NCOP and the National Assembly.
I am happy to report that under the stewardship of the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, hon Thandi Modise, lots of work has been done in this regard. We will constitute a legacy report in the 6th democratic Parliament.
This farewell message will not be complete without dedicating a few words to the collective leadership of this House, under your stewardship. Leaders come and go, but institutions and organisations remain as social agencies for societal change and development. Memories
of your stewardship of this institution will forever be a source of inspiration to many amongst us, across party-political device.
Under your stewardship, the unique brand and position of the NCOP in South Africa's constitutional democracy have grown in leaps and bounds. Among the successes of this term of Parliament, under your stewardship, is the consolidation of the identity of Parliament, as made up by National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, both in terms of governance and operations.
At qualitative level, we have witnessed the emergence of a shared appreciation of the supremacy of the rule of law in the conduct of our business, as an institution. hon Thandi Modise, your consistency and steadfastness, to treat everyone equal in the terms of the law and the rules of this House, have not only bolstered the decorum of the House but, most importantly, made it compelling to members of this House to be custodians of the decorum of this House. Is that not true, members? [Applause.] [Interjections.]
To the Deputy Chairperson, hon Tau, and the two House Chairpersons - being House Chairperson for Committees, hon Nyambi, and the House Chairperson for International Relations, Mme Dikgale: Without your sterling support to the Chairperson, many successes we are talking
about could have not been possible. You stood true to the call of duty, sometimes under difficult circumstances. In multiparty democracy like ours, the role of the opposition is very critical and indispensable for the consolidation of our democracy.
I have said this before in the House: Among the challenges we must confront in our body politic are the twin dangers of blind majority and blind opposition. I am proud to have worked with a collective of leadership of the minority parties that have always defied a danger of blind opposition. It was glaring in a number of our sessions, hon Khawula and hon Cathy. Two members are not here: hon Gaehler - I understand the constraints of a small party - and hon Mokwele. Small parties really struggle. [Laughter.]
The fact that we have never experienced a serious risk in the co- ordination of our work with provinces is a testimony of how Provincial Whips were on top of the situation. [Interjections.] It is the Provincial Whips that make the business of the House to succeed. With this collective account of our footprints in the fifth democratic Parliament, I dare challenge anyone to refute that we have not written a new chapter on the evolution and history of the NCOP as a second Chamber of our democratic Parliament.
Let me therefore take this opportunity to wish you the best in your future endeavours as we part in different directions after this sitting. My good wishes to my dear colleagues, friends and comrades will be incomplete without a big thank you for your individual and collective support during my tenure as Chief Whip of this House. Of course, I am an outgoing Chief Whip now.
I also want you to allow me to express great sense of appreciation and my gratitude to the ANC, my political home for the confidence entrusted in me as Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces, ... and I express my appreciation of good-working relationship, first with Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu and his deputy, Comrade Dlakude, and many of you comrades. I salute you. I want to wish Comrade Mthimunye well, to recover speedily. He has demonstrated a good work ethic by always being with us. Amandla ngawethu! Ke a leboga! Thank you!
Hon Chairperson, hon members and fellow South Africans, we have come to the end of the Fifth Parliament term and I ask myself what it is that I would like to say to whom at the end of the five year journey in the NCOP.
Firstly, I would like to say thank you to all parliamentary staff, committee staff and political parties staff for your patience, sharing
your experience and knowledge with us as well as guiding members in our daily duty of serving the people who voted us into Parliament. I can recall a few robust discussions on legal aspects in various committees as well as heated opinions when the NCOP conducted provincial weeks and taking Parliament to the people. All those moments contributed to enabling us as members to fulfil our roles as we continue with our work in Parliament.
A special word of appreciation to the Table and Chamber staff to the many extended hours of service in the NCOP. Secondly I would like to thank our colleagues of all other parties for interesting discussions, sometimes heated debates and the conjugality.
I always knew when the ANC colleagues wanted to pass some tricky issues in the multiparty works group. The indicators were that everyone normally fighting me in meetings were very friendly and even compliment me.
Hon Thandi Modise I thank you for the experience that could have served in the NCOP under your stewardship. Your ability to listen, search for facts and discern between right and wrong enabled us all to bring some changes to the functionary of the NCOP in this Fifth Parliament.
Hon I will always appreciate you for your ability to listen and find solutions in a calm and reasonable way. The process of adjusting the speaker's time as well as the way the way debates are now being determined and introduced in the NCOP are examples thereof.
I would also not be true to myself if I do not refer to the issues that are still a challenge to the NCOP and need to be addressed in the Sixth Parliament. I am only going to summarise and name a few of them: keeping the executive accountable; revising the existing model of oversight that currently is a blue print of the role and functions of the NA; revisions of the rules of the NCOP has many grey areas or lack of guidance were discovered and the more we fulfilled our role with regard to procedures and processes of legislation. The model of provincial weeks and taking parliament to the people to focus on determining the impact of legislation on the lives of our people. High level panel reports are currently the only significant method of feedback on whether legislation have a good or a bad impact on our people.
The NCOP has to check and balance of Parliament should ensure efficient and progressive oversight and I use that by a lack of a better word over legislation. The procedures and processes followed in the NCOP committees when legislations are being processed specifically focusing
on public participation process with regard to section 76 legislation. We need to apply our minds critically on the input received by the people through this public participation processes as illustrated by the process of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Bill to mention one example.
The reasons and motivations for instituting interventions. Hon House Chair I also want to convey my deep felt gratitude to my DA colleagues for being a team to be proud of including the special delegates from all provinces. We met through many memorable experiences and I know we will look back to this term in the NCOP as one of our highlights in our role as MPs. I would also like to say thank you to every member's family for your support and sacrifices. I wish everyone well in their future endeavours
Hon Chair, lastly, I want to remind all of us as well as our citizens that although we are representing different parties, we are all living in our beloved country South Africa. Our share of responsibility is to uphold the Constitution, the rule of law and the bill of rights enshrined in our Constitution. The end of the term automatically indicates an election, therefore, I call on all South Africans to reflect on the way the party they are voting for makes you feel, to
reflect in the way if you can trust the Constitution, the rule of law and the Bill of Rights in the hands of the party you vote for.
It is important that we as members of the Fifth NCOP Parliament go out, ensure and reflect on what is our role did each and everyone of us did our utmost best when we represented our people in the committees, when we represented the issues of our provinces in our committees, when we applied our minds in the discussions on each and every legislation and come to a decision. I wish for those of us who are returning to the NA, other legislatures and or the NCOP to take this as an example to build on to what we have achieved. Those of our colleagues who choose not to come back or it happens that you cannot come back, I wish you well on all your endeavours. Thank you very much.
Xitsonga:
Mutshamaxitulu, vatirhikulorhi na MaAfrika-Dzonga hi ku angarhela, ndza mi xeweta.
English:
When the EFF arrived in this Parliament, we found an institution which was nothing more but a rubberstamp of the ANC. Wherein, the ineffective policies and legislations were pushed through without contestation and where a President who was a constitutional delinquent was not held to
account. In the last five years, the EFF in the National Assembly and in the National Council of Provinces have transformed this Parliament and South Africa at large.
It was because of the EFF and our first cardinal pillar that Parliament has undertaken to amend section 25 of the Constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation. History will record that it was an EFF motion which started this process. The struggle for liberation has always centred on the need to see the land - which was taken from the African people by white settlers - returned to the people. The EFF has continued with this battle. Five years ago, this Parliament was the playground of Jacob Zuma. He came here and did as he pleased. In fact, the members of the ANC protected Jacob Zuma for the seven and half years.
It was the EFF who got Jacob Zuma to pay back the money; it was the EFF's sponsored vote of no confidence motion which eventually led Zuma to resign and it was the effort of the EFF - both in Parliament and in the courts - which resulted in the establishment of the state of capture commission of enquiry. No matter what the Stratcom media said, it was the EFF which ended the reign of Zuma and the capture of the state by the Guptas.
While holding the executive accountable, we have also used the last five years to table the laws. This has included the National Health Amendment Bill, which will ensure that all clinics are open 24hours a day; the in- sourcing Bill, which will result in the in sourcing of all government and state-owned entities workers who provide regular services; the illegalisation of alcohol advertisement Bill, which will end the promotion of consumption of alcohol in South Africa; the Bank Amendment Bill, which will lead to the creation of the state-owned bank and the nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank Bill, which will end the private ownership of central bank.
The other EFF contributions included the motion on free education; improved working conditions and the salaries of mine workers; the repeal of all apartheid laws and legislations; nationalisation of the Reserve Bank as well as the submission of Parliament and the Davidson County Election Commission and elicit financial flow on tax evasion. On the issue of gender and representation of women, the EFF caucus has led by example. There is 66% of EFF NCOP representatives are females and we have shown that we have capable female leaders. On behalf of the EFF as an organisation, we really like to say to both the EFF women and all South African women, thank you. To the EFF leadership that considered and believed in the leadership of women, may God bless you.
[Inaudible.] industrialisation which will not see the economy grow, but we will see the economic development so that we become the producer of the goods we consume. The EFF government will use tariff subsidies and other measures to protect local industries and agriculture. The EFF government will in-source workers; give productive land to the people; provide them with the necessary tools, skills, resources and access to the market so that they are able to feed the country. The EFF government will provide free education; formalise early childhood development; establish state banks; nationalise the Reserve Bank; ensure that women and the youth are prioritised in the distribution of land and in the allocation of all jobs.
Xitsonga:
Eka vaakatiko hinkwenu va Afrika-Dzonga, a hi humeni hi 08 Mudyaxihi 2019, hi ya vhotela vandla ra EFF. Ndza khensa.
Hon Chairperson, hon members, on behalf of Umntwana waKwaPhindangene, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and on behalf of the IFP family, let me start by expressing gratitude to all the hon members and all South Africans who have sent messages of condolences to our leader, to the Buthelezi family and to the IFP family on the passing away of our dear mother, Princess Irene Audrey Thandekile MaMzila Buthelezi. Your words of comfort, your gestures of ubuntu and your reaching out to
Umntwana and his family at this difficult time means a lot to all of us.
As the NCOP wraps up the five years work of this 5th Parliament, the IFP has been proud to have been part of this House and to have made positive and constructive contributions to build our country, entrench our democracy and stabilise the work of this Parliament. The House started the term with one Chief Whip and we are finishing the term with a different Chief Whip. KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, all changed provincial whips in the middle of the term.
When one looks back again, I remember that we started our work with this Hon Chairperson of our council, Hon Thandi Modise, and we are finishing our term with her. Hon Deputy Chair, watch out! I appreciate that you resurfaced on time after your brief disappearance. Next time, we might not wait that long to fill up an empty Deputy Chairperson vacant seat. At least, you made it back on time for you to finish the term.
As we wrap up the work of this parliament this term, the IFP puts the following as some of the unfinished important business: That the division of revenue still does not give fair shares and proportions to the provinces and local governments of our country; that follow ups to
the concerns raised by communities in Taking Parliament to the People programmes have still remained very poor; that petitions select committee work has been very close to being dysfunctional; that follow ups on commitments made by the executive have been very poor; and that the party motions have received very minimal attention and time in the House for debates
Be that as it may, the IFP wishes to appreciate the quality leadership of our Chairperson, her objectivity, her motherly guidance and the quality reflection of experienced leadership. Chairperson, thank you very much! We also wish to express gratitude to the quality leadership of our Chief Whip, hon Mohai. You came in during the middle of the term and tried your best to steer the ship to the right direction.
My friend and colleague, the hon House Chairperson of Committees, hon Jomo Nyambi. Always reflecting a sense of ubuntu in your leadership. Thank you very much for that. One could very easily mistaken and associate your mentorship and upbringing, and that of the Hon Mohai, with Umntwana's mentorship. [Interjections.] The Hon House Chairperson, Mme Dikgale, Ndlunkulu, thanks for always speaking your mind without fear or favour, irrespective of the circumstances. Hon Deputy Chairperson, thank you for your firmness, especially on the issues of observing time
Secretary of NCOP, Adv Phindela, and all our wonderful NCOP staff, the IFP says bravo! The hon Programming Whip, my favourite: If you come back to this House after elections, I would advise members to bring with them their dictionaries to the House whenever you are scheduled to speak. You remain one of the best teachers of terminology politics in this House, especially Marxist terminology. Hon colleagues, and friends in the DA, the ANC, the EFF, the UDM, the IFP says thank you very much for a five years well spent with you all in this House.
As the IFP, we will forever cherish the experiences and memories of this House: The ANC struggling with the proper utilisation of its big numbers in the house; the DA walk outs and opposition just for the sake of it; the always Western Cape vs. South Africa approach to anything; the EFF noises and disruptions meant to capture the attention of the camera; and the Gaehler outbursts. [Time expired.] Utshaba lixesha! We love you all; we honour you all; and we respect you all! Thank you very much Chair. [Applause.]
Hon members, I prefer greeting people when I meet them for the first time. I am not very good at saying goodbye. However, I want to express my appreciation for every time we, as the NCOP, have spent together.
When I first came to Cape Town, it was a very sudden ruction in my life. I went through a rough time during my first six months here. I found, amongst you, friends. I found, amongst you, people who would judge without even asking first. However, I will always appreciate two women - and for today, I will say they are two white women - who walked into my office, one day, asked me to sit down and tell them what had happened. I must say, I will always appreciate the hon Labuschagne and the hon Van Lingen, because I remember it was the first time, I could sit with women and say, actually it is better that it is my pigs that have died on my farm and not my grandson. I had had to rush here and leave my grandson with a domestic worker because I was totally unprepared to come here. So, I want to thank you for being there.
There was also another woman, the former Chief Whip of the NCOP, who walked in and said that whatever the problem was, we are women and we will stand by you. We will try and understand.
It is when you have walked the difficulties that you understand when another human being gets into a tight spot. It is when you have fought that you understand what fighting is all about. It is when you have felt the pain that you know that to inflict the pain can only be done by cowards because they transfer that which is in them. So, I want to
say that, on a very personal note, it is difficult for me to say goodbye to some of you.
I have also enjoyed the ability of the NCOP to come together and to become family when they are needed to do so. I have often enjoyed the rough debates because the rough debates, depending on who you are, actually show you the blind spots you might have. In politics, it is also always good to hear about your weaknesses, to be forced to look at things you might not ordinarily want to look at.
I agree with the hon Labuschagne. It is very, very necessary for the NCOP to go back to where we started. I remember our first workshop. It was where we interrogated our constitutional mandate. When we walked out of that workshop, we said that intergovernmental relations was going to be our mantra; we must make sure that we do that. We said that co-operative governance is the business of the NCOP. We went all over the show to try and convince others who, like me when I stepped into the NCOP, did not understand its workings.
We have, to some extent, moved the perception about this House of Parliament, a little bit. We know we can move the NCOP to become the House that gets the attention and the respect of South Africans, because it is through the provisions of the Constitution, setting up
the NCOP, that the protection of the provinces and the people in the provinces can, in fact, gain ground.
Those new members of the NCOP and those who will return, if we ever get to be warriors on behalf of our people and gather our wits and come out with that legislation that we need in order to really exercise our powers in terms of sections 100 and 139, we will have done that big thing. If we ever appreciate ... I know that the hon Motlashuping once raised the matter very roughly, of why we, from this House, weren't being taken into the executive. However, I think it is a good thing that members of this House are not members of the executive, because the deliberateness of excluding this House from the executive is a power that we should be exercising very thoroughly.
It is when we mature, as a democracy, as South Africa, that we will really being to appreciate the power of this House. This House is powerful. It just does not understand its power. It does not understand its hold on the executive. It does not understand its responsibility towards provinces. It does not understand its responsibility towards local government. If we get there, some day, we will be very proud.
I am very proud of the accident that brought me to the NCOP. I am very proud to leave the NCOP, as I probably will, because I don't know where
I will be, come the elections, but I will leave with a clean heart that we have been able to talk.
The day I got my first hug from the hon Smit, he had hair all over, and he said he was happy to be giving me a hug. I actually scolded him for having a beard. I told him to cut that thing off, it hurt my face ... [Laughter.] ... forgetting that I was not the person he had to hug every day and who was the one who had to worry about his beard every day! This shows how far we have come.
I must say that I don't know where we would have been without the hon Nyambi and Ma' Dikgale. So, I want to thank them. [Applause.] I also want to thank the Deputy Chair - in his absence, it was these two who held us together. [Interjections.]
Yes, we changed Chief Whips. She started us off. She took us places, and we must thank her. Perhaps it is exactly because mistakes happened that we became stronger for it, and therefore, nTate, say so. Whilst we thank you for helping us navigate the rest of the way, we must also thank Mme Dr Mateme for the stewardship that she gave us. [Applause.]
We must thank the women of the NCOP because, also, when we started off, there were only two young women, if I remember correctly, the hon
Motara and the hon member Manopole, who went back to the Northern Cape. The rest of us were women in our nice and comfortable years - not old! I want to thank the women because they kept up with the pace. They never made excuses that they were women with grandchildren or that they had lost their husbands to death or to younger models. They kept up with the pace, and I want to thank my female colleagues, not only for keeping up with the work, but for also being able to look at all of us, as women across parties, as women, to disagree, as women, but also to remember the points where we needed to come together, as women, address certain matters without our party hats on and move in a certain direction. [Applause.] So, I want to thank the women.
I want to thank the men for the respect they have shown us, as Members of the NCOP. I want to thank you very much. Amongst you ...
IsiXhosa:
... kukho amanene...
English:
... really, really good gentlemen. I want to thank you for that because I have not actually had a single case where female members of the NCOP have come to report male members of the NCOP. For that, I think we must be grateful. [Applause.] If you want to see how great the male South
African Members of Parliament are, travel abroad with them. They become real gentlemen there. So, I want to thank you all for that.
I want to join in in thanking the staff, from Adv Phindela right down to that anonymous member of the community who cleans our offices. I want to thank these service officers who run around tirelessly during the sittings with papers and glasses of water. I want to thank them very, very much because, without them, we might not have the energy we have. [Applause.]
To the staff in the restaurants, we don't always agree with their menus, but they do their best and we must thank them. I think those who do visit the bars must take an extra trip before they go off - not for the last drink, but for the last tip ...
Amandla, Shosholoza! [Laughter.]
... and it must be big for those staff members who serve you and wait for you until you are nice and sozzled before you agree to drive your cars.
Yes, there are a number of things that we have done. There are a number of things we still need to do. I am proud that we tinkered with our
programmes. I am proud that we tinkered with the programme of Taking Parliament to the People. I am proud that we have had more consistent reports coming from the committees.
I am still worried that, in fact, we have not quite gotten into how we get provincial mandates into the House on Bills that need provincial votes. So, I want to say to the provincial Whips that you are only a provincial Whip because you come and serve members that come from a particular province. We pay you that salary to serve all members who come from any particular province. If it is province X, it is all the members. It doesn't matter what colours they wear, because it means that, provincially, the Whip is the leader of that province, here, in a foreign place called Parliament.
I want to say that we would do very well to negotiate amongst ourselves, as parties, to create better camaraderie and congeniality if we began with entrusting the discipline of our members to whom it belongs - the Whips. The Whips have the responsibility to keep us on time, in the House, knowing our work, and delivering. The chairpersons have the powers to run the committees undisturbed. It is unfettered because the Constitution and the Rules of the House do not see the co- chairing and the co-responsibility between the Whip and the
Chairperson. So, chairpersons must not delegate their responsibilities of making sure that matters before them are fine.
I have had quite a quarrel about making a distinction - simply because the NCOP is quite distinct from the NA - in terms of the budget. It is a battle I am fighting and a battle I agree with you, hon members of the NCOP, that I think I have lost. It comes in one way and goes out another. They cannot make a distinction. However, the distinctness of this House must show in the actions and the programmes of this House. It must be reflected in the budget.
I do know that we have taken issue, at presiding officer level, over the allocations of the funds for Parliament on study tours. The NCOP has not had its fair share. I hope that, in future, the chairpersons will get programmes adopted by their committees. It is very important for you to do that because then your committee can hold you to account for that which they have adopted right at the beginning of the term if you do not deliver. That will also help us with planning and fighting for the resources for the