Madam Deputy Speaker, this is one occasion on which it is very difficult to say farewell or goodbye, whatever we want to call it, because we have been a family. Someone said to me that it is like a play: People who can write would say that the world is a stage and that men and women are players or actors. There are times for entering and times for exiting; this is the time to exit the third Parliament.
What we need to do is to look back and ask ourselves questions: Did we do ... Let me take a sip. [Applause.] [Interjections.] I'm not going to sing a song, hon member, thank you. However, there are people you will always remember and there are those people you wish you could not remember any more, and that is life. In this House we had a mix of all that. We had those people whom you always wanted to give you a shoulder to cry on, and this cuts across the parties.
If you remember, Nelson Mandela would say that there are good and bad people everywhere. There are people who touched my heart, such as the hon Sandra Botha. I had breakfast with her two days ago. If you see tears, they are tears of joy because we have done a very good job. We have made our people proud. There were times when things were very difficult, but nonetheless, umsebenzi ngumsebenzi [a job is a job.] [Applause.]
I am strengthened, as I stand here looking very weak, by some of the people who are no longer with us - people with whom we started this third Parliament. I think of the hon Haasbroek. If I could have a tissue, please. I usually get it from the DA. [Applause.] [Interjections.] Not necessarily! The tears might be from my own weakness. The hon Diko; the hon Kati; the hon Mabuyakhulu; the hon Sigcau; the hon Vezi; the hon Zulu; the hon Ziphora Nawa, whose son is here with us; the hon Gomomo; the hon Kondlo; the hon Cassim Saloojee and hon Johannes Schippers.
I was going through their speeches, just to ask myself, if they had had an opportunity to address me now, what would have said? They would they have said, "Yours was a good race, go home and take some strength and then come back to the podium."
There are a number of people whom I would like to thank. I have a very long speech which I am not going to read, because I think what I have said summarised how I feel about all of you. [Applause.] Hon Oliphant, when I say I am going to shorten my speech, it does not mean that you should go to the coffee bar! [Laughter.] I was told that you were a regular there. [Laughter.] The Secretary is here and we need to start looking at the budget for the coffee. We should maybe make sure that members do not spend so much time there. But I really need to say that I would like to thank Madam Deputy Speaker; the House Chairpersons; all the Whips and Chairpersons of Committees; the Secretary to Parliament, Mr Dingani, and his Deputy, Mr Coetzee; the ever- hardworking Mr Mansura, who is always available to help; and all the members of the Table staff. I have mentioned Ms Sandra Botha because when I worked with her, I discovered that I was working with a leader. To all the members who would not be returning, I would like to wish you success in your new lives.
I am not going to sound as if I won't be coming back, because I think I will be. [Applause.] When we meet in May I will be addressing you again. Maybe at that time I will have the courage to complete my speech, which I won't be completing today.
Hon members, I would really like to thank you. We did a lot together and have put our Parliament where it should be. At times, we did so under difficult conditions and have made our country proud. We made sure that the South African flag flew higher and higher. At this stage, let me thank you. [Applause.]