... farewell to all my friends in this place. I have friends here. I look at the Deputy Minister of Basic Education looking at me, and I look at Ms Sisulu looking at me, and I think of all the notes that we used to send one another [Laughter.] Then I also received a note one day, and I do not see Minister Connie September around, but I know exactly what she is going to do on 26 June, because I am going to do the same thing. I know what 26 June means to her. I have had many friends on both sides of this House. If I look back there at a very dear friend of mine, the hon Kora Dikgacwi, I would like to say that his contribution in the committee was really valuable. I do not see the hon Graham MacKenzie around.
However, I must really also recognise the people on the left, my friends and colleagues. The last 20 years here were wonderful years. They gave me the opportunity ...
... soos ons in Afrikaans s, om skouers te skuur met die groot geeste in ons land. Ek kyk hier voor na Dene Smuts, wat ook gaan uittree, en my aanvallige bankmaat daar, Anchen Dreyer. Dan kan ek nie vergeet om in haar afwesigheid ook vir die agb Lindiwe Mazibuko te s ek hoop sy word gou gesond nie. As ek so rondkyk, dan sien ek veral ons hoofsweep, agb Watson, 'n man saam met wie ek in 1994 hier aangekom het. Baie dankie vir jou vriendskap oor baie jare. [Applause.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[... as we say in Afrikaans, "om skouers te skuur", to rub shoulders with leading figures in our country. I am looking at Dene Smuts here in the front, who is also stepping down, and my charming bench mate over there, Anchen Dreyer. Let me not forget to tell the hon Lindiwe Mazibuko in her absence that I hope she gets well soon. When I look around, I notice our Chief Whip, hon Watson, in particular, a man with whom I arrived here in 1994. Thank you very much for you friendship over the years. [Applause.]]
I would like to turn to the Speaker now, and I know I will now have time. [Laughter.]