The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, the permanent Deputy Chairperson, the Chief Whip of the NCOP and the permanent delegates who have just been confirmed this morning, I would like to as well representing the Limpopo province, take this opportunity and express word of gratitude for our participation in this august House.
We also come here understanding that the NCOP carries enormous task and responsibility to ensure that the aspirations and the interests of provinces are actually carried over and to ensure that at all times the anxieties and those that are in the provinces are looking at those who are representing them in this NCOP to ensure that at all times the issues that are emanating from the provinces, the pressures that are emanating from the provinces should be represented by those that have been sent here. We would like to therefore take this opportunity to congratulate all those who have been confirmed, including the leadership of the NCOP. With those words, we are saying that we are very much grateful and we are looking forward to working closely together with the NCOP. I thank you. [Applause.]