Chairperson, we are entering the season of peace and goodwill, and so this is the occasion for kind words of thanks and holiday good wishes.
You will probably, therefore, be relieved to hear that I will not be using this opportunity to refer to the fact that for the last five months of this year, Parliament has been inhibited from playing its rightful role of exercising oversight over the executive and bringing them to account by the fact that Parliament has hardly met.
I will also not use this opportunity to refer to the fact that the President has only appeared twice to answer oral questions, the Deputy President once and three government clusters only once. Neither will I be referring to the fact that the Scorpions Bills and Broadcasting Amendments Bills which were passed by Parliament were a blot on this Parliament's copybook.
Nor even will I mention the fact that the integrity of this institution was further called into question by the termination of the mandate of the liquidators in the Travelgate matter and the purchase of the outstanding debt by Parliament.
I am not going to refer to any of these matters because this is the beginning of the season of peace and goodwill - and I do not want to pick a fight with the hon members on the opposite side of this House on this the last day of the session.
It's in this spirit that I formally, from this podium, congratulate the new Chief and Deputy Whips of the Majority Party. I wish them peace in the New Year. I wish I could offer them prosperity as well, but the Moseneke Commission had other thoughts.
I do promise not to be extra difficult in respect of my dealing with the Chief Whip as I am hugely concerned that since my becoming Chief Whip of the DA, I have literally seen off two Chief Whips and one Acting Chief Whip of the ANC. I don't know why I have this effect on people. But it must be either me or possibly all the turmoil that is in the ranks of the majority party. Now, who knows what's going to happen in the New Year? I promise the new Chief Whip that I will do my best to co-operate.
Nonetheless, let me thank them for the good working relationship we have had while they were in the Office of the Chief Whip and wish them well. I have to say that when one looks at the two Chief Whips and one Acting Chief Whip, one left as a result of being in disgrace, one was demoted and one was promoted - so there you are!
I don't want to speculate about the fact that the Hon Baleka Mbete also left her post during the course of this year. She has now become the Deputy President and I am sure it is only because of my very good working relationship with her that she has achieved such high office. We wish her well too.
To the new Speaker, may I congratulate her and wish her long life, long life, not only in her life but in her post as well, because I don't know how long she will be there for.
The Christmas season is about giving and receiving presents. And when I look around the Chamber at this time in our political history, and more particularly, with an election looming, it reminds me of a family around a Christmas tree on Christmas morning - full of excitement and anticipation. As always, when Father Christmas delivers the presents some get more than they anticipate, others are disappointed - sometimes there are even tears.
The bigger brother is anticipating that because, being the oldest, he had in the past received a big present, he will once again receive a big present. What he doesn't realise is that others in the family are now growing up and getting bigger - so I am afraid he will be disappointed. Even more so, because I don't think he's quite realised yet that there is a new baby in the house. I hope there won't be too much disappointment for their side and I certainly hope there won't be tears. I wish I could advise the older child to write urgently to Father Christmas to request him to deliver a bigger present, but I am a little afraid that Father Christmas might just ask why he should deliver a bigger present when the older brother himself has failed to deliver very much over the last 14 years.
But perhaps this Christmas allegory is a bit too complicated for the end of the session. Perhaps let me just take this opportunity to first of all thank all the DA officials, research staff, my own personal assistant, PA, and the DA Whips who helped me, and indeed all the Whips of all parties who co-operated so well in the interests of Parliament.
Let me also thank the Presiding Officers and all the staff of Parliament, from the most senior to the most junior, for doing their best to treat us with courtesy and consideration and for giving of their best.
Finally, then, may I take this opportunity to wish the Presiding Officers, all the hon members and all the staff a happy and blessed Christmas and a very good New Year. Thank you. [Applause.]