House Chair, I can tell you something: This is history. This is history! Mam Regina, you have really created history, and you will go down in the annals of history as being someone who was really able to change hearts and minds. Because, just listening to the last speaker that stood on this podium ... if you were able to change their hearts and minds, aah, you've done well! [Laughter.] [Applause.] There is no better tribute you can be paid than that!
Having said that, hon Boroto spoke about the history of the South African mace. Let me tell you, colleagues, that, in medieval times, the royal Serjeant-at-arms carried a mace stamped with the royal coat of arms. At that, time the mace was a weapon used to assert the authority of the monarch. I'm glad it is not used as a weapon today!
Although, if you look at the shape of our mace, it does look like a knobkerrie! I think Mam Regina could have used it as a knobkerrie on some of us in this House! But fortunately, she did not!
I thought I would say to you, today, mam Regina, that there are probably some colours that you don't want to see when you go home and retire! [Laughter.] But, after that speech, I think you'll want to see that colour! You'll have a soft heart and you'll want to see red as well! It was those clad in red that enabled you to do something that you didn't do before, and I'm glad that you went there respectfully and spoke to our hon colleagues.
But you will be able to write a book on what they told you when you went to them. We don't know what they whispered to you! "Hayi, voetsek! Hayi, this and that!" [Laughter.] But we didn't hear them saying that and we know they didn't say that.
You carried out your duties as per the instruction of the presiding officer with such aplomb that they melted in your hands. That is the kind of Serjeant-at-arms we need here. I think, sometimes, it is a misnomer to use the term "sergeant" because we know of what that word reminds us - ipolisa [the police] - and we know what those sergeants did to us before 1994. And when we use the term
Serjeant-at-arms, it makes it even worse because there is the suggestion that the person is armed!
So, Mam Regina, the IFP and its leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi - who has been here for as long as you have ... I was here in 1994. He was here in 1994.
Yesterday, we talked about those who were here in that era. There are probably only 20 of us left who were here. We are very pleased to be associated with people like Mam Regina and others ... and I see for the first time in history, as well ... this is history in the making, today ... that all the colleagues who do the backroom work - the parliamentary support staff - are seated out there to give support to Mam Regina. [Applause.]
Thank you to all of you for the backroom work and for the support that you give us and for the nonsense that you sometimes take from us as Whips - why this speaker? Why not that speaker? You gave us short time, Chairperson! Check the clock again! - I think we don't always appreciate the kind of work ...
Mam Regina, you were able to bring all of them together, seated out there, so that we can recognise all of them that are there and some who are not there.
I think there's another practice that Mam Regina started a few years ago, and that was to go to the gym. She needed to have the muscle to do what she was instructed to do, sometimes by you, Mam Boroto! She had to have the muscle! So, continue gymming. It'll keep you healthy.
Please do not forget us here in Parliament. Pop in. We'll recognise you seated and up there and say hey, there's one of our former colleagues and friends.
Good luck to you and your family. Enjoy the rest of your time with them. Thank you. [Applause.]