Hon Speaker, we have come to the end of another long year in Parliament, where all played their own roles in their own respective ways. It's a time to say thank you and goodbye to all members from all parties at the end of this session.
Our colleague, the hon Chief Whip of the Opposition, used the opportunity for one second to bring in a specific political point, which is very important to him and I understand that. He made a point that he remembers how united we all were when we were preparing for the World Cup earlier in the year. He then expressed his concern by asking what happened to that spirit in the period after that. And I can understand that very well.
If we look back to our own history and our own past, a couple of years ago, this country successfully hosted the Rugby World Cup and the Cricket World Cup. The point I would like to make is that - as I said in the past in this House, and I want to repeat it - sport is very important in terms of nation- building and in terms of social cohesion. However, we will not succeed in addressing the issue of being united in our diversity by just going from one sporting event to the next. We need more than that.
We need to address the real issues of our country and our nation in terms of poverty and joblessness. We need to find a constitutional dispensation where we can be truly united, but also respecting our diversity. I understand what hon Davidson has said, but we need to take those issues further in our debates.
Ek wil, ten slotte, baie dankie s vir die parlementre personeel vir die rol wat elkeen van hulle die afgelope jaar gespeel het. Van die veiligheidspersoneel wat ons veilig hou; tot die spyseniering; tot die biblioteek - noem maar op, almal wat daar is - elkeen het sy rol gespeel om van hierdie jaar 'n sukses te maak.
Dankie ook aan die media, waarsonder die Parlement irrelevant sou word in die o van die kiesers daar buite, want, as die media nie rapporteer wat in hierdie Parlement en by die uitvoerende gesag gebeur nie, gaan die volk en die mense daar buite aan asof ons nie bestaan nie. Ons moet dit weet en besef watter rol die media daarin speel.
Ek s baie dankie aan u almal. Geniet die rustyd wat vir u voorl. Ons gaan 'n Kersseisoen betree, en, van die VF Plus se kant af, wens ek dat Kersfees vir u elkeen werklik 'n Christusfees in u hart sal wees wat rustigheid en vrede vir ons almal sal bring. Baie dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[In conclusion, I would like to thank the parliamentary staff very much for the role that each of them has played over the past year. From the security personnel who keep us safe; to the catering; to the library - you name it, all of them - each one has contributed to making this year a success.
Thank you also to the media, without whom Parliament would become irrelevant in the eyes of the voters out there, because, should the media not report what transpires in this Parliament and in the Executive, the nation and the people out there would continue as if we did not exist. We should know this and realise the important role the media has to play in this regard.
I thank you all very much. Enjoy the period of rest that lies ahead. We are entering a festive season, and, from the side of the FF Plus, I wish that Christmas would truly represent to each of you a festival of Christ in your hearts that would bring tranquility and peace to us all. Thank you very much.]