Hon Speaker, with only a few weeks left before 2012 ends, time truly is an illusion, as Einstein put it. Just as the beginning of the year usually marks new commitments, resolutions, plans, etc, at the end of the year we have an opportunity to reflect on the year past.
This is an opportunity for this Parliament, collectively and as individuals, to ponder on virtues and faults. How have we fared in living up to the mandate given to us? Can we hold our heads high and say that we have tried to forge our way forward and that we gave this year our best shot?
We must reflect upon and assess the decisions we've made collectively and as individuals in various offices. We must use our reflections as an opportunity to make profound, constructive and positive changes.
We must have the courage to evaluate what motivated our thoughts, our actions, our attitudes and our behaviour. Were we selfless or were we selfish? Were we modest or were we proud? Did we serve or did we take? Did we counsel or did we judge? Have we sought to build or have we sought to crucify? Did we stand for the truth, and what is that truth? Were we tolerant or did we allow our hearts to manifest condemnation?
It is necessary for each of us to reflect on these things, because life is often short and it passes briefly before we've had an opportunity to make amends - amends even to ourselves, as we are often too hard on ourselves.
The year 2012 saw us say goodbye and farewell to a number of people who would have loved to continue to share this space with us, which makes it much more of a privilege to be able to stand here and say farewell.
With humility and love, I wish all of you a serene festive season, a joyous time with your families and a constructive period with your constituencies.
Lastly, I would like to share these few lines from a poem by Kolabomi Adeko, Goodbye, Farewell:
Farewell is beautiful A glimpse into the future Farewell is wonderful It sets for Adventure
As we say farewell, let us also look forward to coming back here at the beginning of next year, all of us, safe and sound, ready to tackle the next adventure, ready to start afresh, ready to commit ourselves to democracy and a better South Africa. May you all fare well. Thank you.