Chairperson, hon members, colleagues and all staff members, William Shakespeare once wrote:
Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.
It has been a long and tiring year. I hope those who came to Parliament thinking that it was always parties and endless dinners are now aware that all those niceties come with a lot of hard work.
When we look at the bigger picture, colleagues and friends, it is encouraging that we managed to tolerate and co-operate with one another for the good of the country and for a better life for all, irrespective of our colour, political affiliation or religion.
Ba re ntwa ke ya madulammoho. Sena se bolela hore re a lwana re le mekgatlo ya dipolotiki empa qetellong re bana ba thari e le nngwe, Afrika Borwa. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[They say fighting happens among people who live together. This means that even though we compete as political parties, at the end of the day we belong to one country, South Africa.]
We have had our differences but we did not let that deter us from our common objective, which is prosperity for the country. We might have been offended in whatever way as individuals or you might have been a thorn in the flesh of someone in the House, so this is the time to say let bygones be bygones, for it is the season of goodwill.
In the language of science they say, "Where there is friction, there is progress." For any one of us to be able to take a step forward it is because of the friction between your feet and the surface.
Let us go back home to rest and have a jolly time with our loved ones. But let us go back to our depository of ideologies and wisdom so that we come back with our minds sharpened and ready to carve a better future for the country we've been entrusted with.
Wees versigtig op die paaie gedurende die vakansie. Ek weet dat baie lede jaagduiwels is! Onthou dat die agteros ook in die kraal kom. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Be careful on the roads during the holidays. I know that many members are speedsters! Remember that it's better to arrive late than never. [Applause.]]