Madam Speaker, Mr Van der Merwe, you are quite right I wasn't called. But I am so eager to make my speech that I cannot wait any longer.
It is, in fact, just over three months ago that we said farewell to each other at the end of the 2008 parliamentary year. However, this farewell today is certainly far more important and far more significant. Last year we were saying goodbye to each other, knowing that we would all be back again in January. On this occasion we are saying a permanent goodbye to many of our colleagues who have been with us for many years.
A number of members have chosen the end of this Parliament to retire and others have their party hierarchies and the voters deciding for them that it is time for them to move on. This is, of course, the point made earlier by the hon Minister of Finance. [Interjections.] No, Mr Jeffery, I am afraid I will be back, sir.
It reminds me of the old adage that voters like to trot out at this time of a parliamentarian's life, "Make your MP work, don't re-elect him."
When those of us who are coming back do return after the election, Parliament will have many new faces. There will be, I am sure, far fewer parties than we have today. But in so saying, we also know that there will be one very important new addition. We wonder how the ANC will be able to cope with this! But time will tell. [Laughter.] Undoubtedly, the ANC ranks will be much reduced, and the opposition benches will be very much fuller. This will all be very exciting.
But this is for the future. Today we are saying farewell at the end of five years of working together. It has been five tumultuous years, both in and out of Parliament, especially for the ruling party. But quite frankly, this is not a time for point-scoring. So, let me concentrate on the task at hand.
The fact of the matter is that most of us have friends in this House across party lines. Most of us are, individually, pretty decent people who care about others regardless of the party they belong to. [Interjections.] You can tell the people who have been out of this House for some time this afternoon. I wonder where they have been. [Laughter.]
It is usually only collectively that we fight. This is, of course, the true nature of politics. Let me say that I can see some good in nearly all ANC members, even in people like the hon Dennis Bloem, Danny Oliphant and others at the back there. But at midnight on 21 April 2009, many people who are presently members of this very exclusive club, known as Parliament, will be leaving this club and will lose those two letters behind their names.
They will do so to start new careers or to enter retirement. It is important that we wish all these people every success regardless of which party they belong to and that we do this very sincerely.
Obviously, within the DA ranks we are saying farewell to a number of our colleagues, including the whole front bench. I want to take this opportunity to wish our retiring members well. I do hope that this House will not mind if I single out two individuals.
The first one is the hon Joe Seremane, with whom I have worked closely for more than 12 years now. He has taught me a great deal in terms of personal relationships, etc. But the truth is that Joe Seremane got married recently to a wonderful woman. [Applause.] I am sure he now has many more better things to do than simply warm the benches here in Parliament. He is a good man in every sense of the word, and I shall miss him.
I also want to pay a very special tribute to my friend, one-time leader and colleague, Tony Leon, who has been a massive inspiration to me since 1989 and especially since 1994. We have walked a long path together, hon Mr Leon - a very exciting one. It has been a great period in my life and in our party's life.
Thank you very much indeed. But I have no doubt that South Africans from across the whole range will hear a great deal more about the hon Mr Tony Leon over the decade to come. I want to say to him that he has played a major role in this country's political history. Certainly, sir, you can be proud of what you have achieved. [Applause.]
As this third democratic Parliament comes to an end, let me pay tribute to the Table staff in the NA. They have given this House an excellent service over the past five years, first under the leadership of Kasper Hahndiek, and for the past few years under Kamal Mansura. The DA certainly appreciates your help and professionalism over the years and at all times.
Let me also pay tribute to other officials in Parliament, including sound and vision, protocol, IT, finance and various other departments. You have all played an important role in the lives of MPs, and we appreciate what you do. [Interjections.] Certainly catering! Thank you very much indeed, Mr Singh. [Interjections.]
Well, how can we forget the bar service. You are quite right. Thank you very much indeed. To all the bars and the people who work in the bars, a very special thanks - especially on behalf of those people at the back there! [Laughter.]
To you, Madam Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the House Chairs, past and present, the DA has been a very well-behaved model party in terms of decorum. I am sure you appreciate our general behaviour, Madam Speaker - the fact that we called for very few Divisions, made very few interjections and took hardly any points of order. [Laughter.]
I'm sure you both appreciate this very much. But we do thank you sincerely on behalf of this institution for all you both do for this House and for Parliament in general. We don't always agree with what you do and what you say. But certainly that helps to make this institution much more exciting and to make it what it is.
To the Whips in the DA and to the Whips of all parties, we certainly enjoyed our interactions. I believe that our work in the Chief Whips' Forum has always been in the best interests of Parliament.
To everyone, farewell! Some of us, Mr Jeffery, will meet again after 22 April 2009. But the DA certainly does wish every member of this third democratic Parliament all the best for whatever their future holds. Thank you very much indeed. [Applause.]