Chairperson, let me first of all quickly deal with the New NP and DP. I just want to respond to them by saying that I am surprised by the response of the Western Cape and the New NP because it was their own party which, in 1973, started this process. All that we have done is to show the courage and political will to indeed, once more, engage in extensive and robust consultations for the implementation, of course with improvements, of the recommendations that were made by the NP itself. When did they change? I do not understand.
In a way the Western Cape must begin to understand that they are not an island, not just a holiday mecca in South Africa, that they have to support and share expertise with the rest of the country. They do have expertise and we need to tap into that expertise. In fact, they should be proud that we are trying to tap into their expertise.
I hope one day they will realise that they are part of South Africa, not just on an island out there.
I thought Mr Nel understood that we live in the world of IT today. So his concerns about the delay in laboratory results are really unfounded. [Interjections.] As we indicated, these days results are transmitted electronically. So his grounds for concern are really unfounded. [Interjections.]
The DP starts off by convincing us that they have been supporting the Bills because they are interested in transformation, but they do exactly the opposite. I think the most upsetting thing they have said today is that they do not support integration. They are very concerned that the new public entity will provide services for SADC as well. Nobody has said we are going to start with SADC. I do not think one can start out there and omit one's home, but obviously, in the spirit of globalisation, we must start with regional integration. I do not know to which region those hon members belong, and yet, they are the people who support liberalisation.
Let me also just address, very briefly, my sister from KwaZulu-Natal, Mrs Millin. Let me start off by saying I really need to thank KwaZulu-Natal for having been very objective and co-operative in the process leading up to today with regard to the Bill under discussion. Mrs Millin's concerns will be accommodated in the fact that the implementation of the Bill will be staggered. We will not immediately implement all the provisions of the Bill.
Let me also dispel the notion that this has been fast-tracked. We have just heard that the process started in 1987. We came into power in 1994. We picked it up. From 1994 to date is actually six years. So hon members will agree with me that the train has indeed been very, very slow. The people, our passengers, have been able to come on board, including those who perhaps might not have wanted to get onto this train. So the train has been deliberately been slow to allow all of us to get used to the fact that the train moves on. However, from now onwards the implementation is going to be fast indeed.
Obviously, transformation, by its nature is quite threatening. It does indeed bring about uncertainties. Sometimes it brings fears and sometimes it is not easy, but transform we must. We have indeed been understood by most of the stakeholders. I do not know about the Western Cape and the DP, but most of the stakeholders, including the people who are employed in the different laboratories, have understood the direction in which we want to proceed. We have reassured them, to the best of our ability, that we will ensure that the creation of this new single national public entity will be as smooth as possible. Obviously, we seek their support and also their co- operation to ensure that indeed this transformation is as smooth as possible. [Interjections.]
As I have said, what we are trying to do, and I think we will succeed in doing this, is to ensure that we indeed create quality services, that we consolidate ...