Hon Speaker, hon members and our Ministers in the House, we draw to a close this session of Parliament amidst much debate on the 17th Conference of the Parties, Cop 17, climate change talks which will be held in Durban from 29 November to 9 December 2011.
We are confident that just as we demonstrated to the world last year that we could host a successful Fifa World Cup, so too can we ensure that the climate change conference will proceed successfully. We are confident that this conference will further the work of previous conferences towards building an international system of climate change.
As we end this 2011 Parliament, it is important to reflect on the year that was and take stock of what we have managed to accomplish. We began this year acknowledging that it marked the 21st anniversary of the release from prison of Former President Nelson Mandela. We also participated in the inaugural meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics, in April in China, and we have taken up our nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, which we will use to promote the African agenda as well as peace and security in Africa and the world.
On 18 May 2011, we held our fourth successful democratic municipal Selections in which the majority of the people once again mandated the ANC to lead. We also paid homage to the four retiring commissioners who had served on the Independent Electoral Commission, IEC, with distinction for 14 years and who had presided over four free and fair democratic elections. They are the chairperson of the IEC, Dr Brigalia Bam; the deputy chairperson, Ms Thoko Mpumlwana; and commissioners Fanie van der Merwe and Terry Tselane, the latter of whom now serves as the deputy chairperson.
The campaigning which preceded the local government elections was vigorous, dynamic and spirited. We all concede that such a mammoth task cannot be achieved without us all working together for a common and prosperous future.
The hallmark of a participatory democracy is the adoption of an inclusive approach and partnering with each other to arrive at a common future. As the ANC, we believe that the responsibility entrusted to us by the people of South Africa is not one we take lightly. Our approach of consultation, engagement, interaction and collaboration is in recognition of the fact that we learn and grow together. All parties are to be commended for the spirit in which they worked together and mutually co-operated to take the programmes of this Parliament forward.
We acknowledge that the debates were often heated, the exchanges emotive, the arguments personal, with humour adding a touch of comic relief. But I think we can all agree that it was never out of malice.
On 24 October 2011, the President reshuffled his Cabinet in a bid to significantly strengthen government's performance and capacity. Vacancies created as a result of this reshuffle in Parliament were timeously filled, thereby ensuring that work continues unabated. In our pursuit of building a people's Parliament and an activist Parliament, we do so mindful of the fact that the work that we do must remain true to the ideal of building a better quality of life for all the people of South Africa. We welcome the decisive action and leadership of the President and applaud his commitment to building a performance-orientated state.
We also bade farewell to former Chief Justice Ngcobo and welcomed the current Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Mogoeng Mogoeng. A highlight on the parliamentary programme was the hosting of the 2011 International Consultative Seminar, which focused on the role of legislatures in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, recognising the legislative sector's role in evaluating and reviewing strategies and interventions and in forging consensus to ensure that our country meets its national commitments.
Parliament also hosted the Women's Parliament, and a Joint Sitting of Parliament's National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces also debated the theme of this year's Women's Parliament, which is "Working together to enhance women's economic empowerment through skills development and sustainable job creation".
"Deepening a people-centred transformational agenda" was the theme of the people's assembly which took place in Mangaung in the Free State on 22 September and 23 September 2011. Carrying forward the vision of an activist Parliament, the people's assembly can be described as a vehicle through which Parliament encourages all people in order to address matters of mutual interest.
Giving further impetus to the upcoming Cop 17 conference, Parliament hosted the National Consultative Seminar on Climate Change: "Building Tomorrow Today; Working Towards a National Consensus on Climate Change in the African Cop 17".
Representatives from all sectors of our society were invited in an effort to meet the objectives of the seminar. These objectives were to generate greater understanding among a range of representatives from national and provincial legislatures, from local government, from civil-society organisations and from government about the South African government's position on climate change and to strive for a national consensus on this position.
Just last week, we convened the first Parliamentary Interfaith Dialogue. This was linked to a resolution passed by both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces in March 2010 to form a multiparty Parliamentary Interfaith Council which would interact with other religious structures outside Parliament on issues of spiritual and moral support, and on conflict resolution on the African continent. This Parliamentary Interfaith Council will also create a platform for an activist Parliament that will further advance, forge and renew relations amongst various religions and influence and focus discussions on issues affecting different religions, and intensify efforts to contribute to nation-building and social cohesion and promote peace and co-operation among religious formations in South Africa.
Members have worked tirelessly, specifically with regard to the legislative programme of Parliament. The exchanges and debates were a testimony to our democracy. As elected public representatives seated here, we all know that we share a common mission which remains the creation of a united, nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous society.
We must also pay tribute to those who have passed on this year who made such enormous sacrifices and contributions to building our democracy. We remember former Members of Parliament, Ms Albertina Sisulu, Mr Paul Harry Kgomotso Ditshetelo, Bishop LJ Tolo and Ms Nontsikelelo Magazi.
We also bade farewell to Mr Mike Ellis of the DA, who retired after 24 years as a Member of Parliament. Committed, dedicated and passionate about serving the country and its people, he will be remembered and missed, and we hope that Mr Watson will take over from him because we already miss Mr Ellis. He really brought life to this House.
The coming year sees the ANC celebrating its centenary to mark 100 years of selfless struggle by the people of South Africa under the leadership of the ANC in its pursuit of freedom, democracy and unity of all South Africans. As we celebrate the centenary of the ANC, we want the broad society of South Africa to join in and be part of the celebrations because the legacy of the ANC is the legacy of the people of South Africa, as we all know.
In the words of our beloved Madiba at the opening address of the special debate on the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he said, and I quote:
As we reached out across the divisions of centuries to establish democracy, we need now to work together in all our diversity, including the variety of our experiences and recollections of our history, to overcome the divisions themselves and eradicate their consequences.
Finally, both the Deputy Chief Whip and the Chief Whip of the Majority Party - whom I'm now representing - would like to thank the Speaker, Mr Max Sisulu; the Deputy Speaker, Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo; House Chairpersons Mrs Fatima Hajaig and Messrs Cedric Frolick and Ben Skosana; and the management and staff of Parliament for their assistance and contributions to the work of all members. May you all have a safe, peaceful and restful festive season. I thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]