Hon Speaker, Deputy President and hon members, the Deputy President should by rights belong to the UCDP, taking into account his early background in the church. [Laughter.] Anyway, he is well placed to convert the ANC from within. He has since lived those values of leadership - love, respect, service, tolerance and consultation.
He is a stickler for details and rules. In 2002 when he was assigned by his organisation to develop party-to-party relations in the region, he did so diligently and even consulted with the UCDP.
While we have been onlookers, we have noticed that the ANC is not the same as when he was its secretary-general. As the voice of reason, ANC members call him Mkhuluwa - elder brother - which simply means that they appreciate his advice and counsel at all times.
As a former President of the Republic, he is the only one who had occasion to invite the leaders of opposition parties, one by one, to his Mahlamba Ndlopfu residence in order to have face-to-face discussions with them and sort out issues of the country.
The Deputy President exuded humility, even when asked provocative questions in the House. He came out as cool, calm, and collected.
It is no secret that he stood up and spoke out, and even sought to change the fortunes of his organisation. As early as 2007, he bewailed the unfortunate manner in which the ANC had handled the allocation of tenders. As recently as December last year, he spoke out against the stance of his party on the question of the release of Clive Derby-Lewis. He compared the matter with how B J Vorster released J B Marks on compassionate grounds. It is this outgoing President who, as recently as this year, spoke out and said that the Nkandla issue could have been handled in a different way.
We thank you for ...
... go tswelela o kgalema, rra. O kgalemile, ba ba utlwileng ba utlwile. [... continuing to reprimand, sir. You reprimanded; only those that listened heard you.]
We wish the Deputy President all the best in his future endeavours, wherever his party may decide to place him. Good luck.
Re a leboga. Tswelela o kgalema, rra. [We thank you. Continue to reprimand, sir.] [Applause.]