I thank the hon members for the farewell speeches and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the hon members for the work done for our people in this year. It was a hectic year.
We started the year off looking forward to major changes in the biggest parties in the country and it has happened with the DA, and we are now, as hon members have pointed out, going on to the conference of the ANC, the ruling party. We move towards that major event with no doubt that it will be a success and therefore we will come back with a strong House, strengthened by the fact that the two biggest parties have renewed themselves in whatever way that they will have decided.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the honourable staff, and today the staff is called "honourable," because I do believe they are very honourable. [Applause.] Members of staff work very hard. I'd like to say that to us as hon Members of Parliament. They work very hard and they do a mostly thankless job, because nobody really gets to know just what they go through and the amount of time and energy they put into what they do to help us to do our job. I thank the Secretary of the National Assembly and his team, because they have carried the work in spite of the ongoing challenges, which we, of course, will continue to try and improve on. [Applause.]
I wish to thank the Deputy Speaker and the House Chairpersons, who have come into the Office of the Speaker to try and share the load of the work that we have to carry. I'd like to thank the Deputy Speaker for launching the gyms and in particular the attention and energy with which she looks after the issues of our wellbeing. [Applause.]
May I also congratulate all hon members for finally being approached by an additional cheque before their December cheque, because either in the next two days or on Tuesday at the latest, hon members will receive an additional cheque. [Interjections.]
Hon members, may I also add my voice to those who have wished you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and indeed also emphasise what has been said, that we should spend the time with our families, whom we neglect most of the year. Be renewed and come back more charged and ready to tackle 2008, which is not going to be a relaxed year, because it's virtually our last year. So, as we part, I wish you well, hon members.