Through you, Speaker: thank you, Mr President, for accommodating my question, even though it is not in the context that I expected that it should be. The African Union's deadline for securing the continent's coastal waters by 2050, of course, seems an incredibly long time. I think I will be 97 by then, I am not sure about you. Knowing that piracy in African waters is rife, I am particularly grateful that you agreed to answer this question.
We know that while piracy remains lucrative, it is going to remain the problem that it is. How much of a priority is this matter to you particularly, and for South Africa, with piracy reported to have reached Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles and Mozambique? It could be in South African waters anytime soon, if not already.
We have a vast and vulnerable coastline. Sea-blindness is said to be our biggest threat. What are we doing locally, to address this threat? For example, are we able to ensure that a well-trained and equipped Defence Force regularly patrols South African and Mozambican waters? Thank you.