Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to assure this House that there has been no coup. I am not the Chief Whip; I am the Deputy Chief Whip.
We have come to the end of the third and final term of 2009. It has been an extremely busy term, and we have been called upon to perform our public representative duties to the best of our abilities.
Our disagreements over the correct and strategic way forward are natural. In fact, they enrich our young democracy and give it the sharp perspective that it needs if we are to respond to the many, and often contradictory, challenges facing us.
Upon reflection, we have been able to raise the level of debate in this House, but the challenge must be to keep raising this level through the articulation of our policy perspectives, conceptual analysis, wisdom and knowledge.
We have all been through challenging times this term against the backdrop of huge global and local economic challenges. We have debated these matters publicly and I am sure the nation has witnessed our seriousness in seeking to make Parliament part of the solution in the fight against job losses, hunger and poverty. We have spoken to the programmes of action that need to be implemented and how Parliament can play a role in this.
We are the makers of history when it comes to this House. Therefore we carry a huge responsibility and the onus to ensure that we do what our people have called upon us to do.
We would like to thank all members of the House for their dedication and hard work. We would like to take this opportunity to also thank the members of the opposition for their support, especially members of the Chief Whips' Forum. They have really assisted us in the smooth running of this House.
We would like to thank the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker for their exemplary leadership. Sometimes it is not a good idea to deal with the Speaker if your case is not well prepared. We really would like to thank him for his firmness.
We would also like to thank the Secretary to Parliament, the Table staff, and the staff of political parties for their hard work and dedication.
We hope next term will be better than this term. We commit ourselves to continuously improving the services to our people.
It is my privilege to recognise the contribution of all South Africans who have made it possible for this House to function the way it does. We wish to thank our families and friends for their support.
Finally, I wish all members well and urge them to enjoy themselves, so that their constituencies are well-served by their rejuvenated efforts. Thank you.