Hon Chairperson, please allow me at the outset to deviate slightly from the subject in hand in order to say goodbye to our two very good friends and colleagues. Firstly, there is the hon Tim Harris, who has already taken up a position in the NA and has been appointed the DA's shadow minister of trade and industry.
Secondly, there is our very well-loved hon Sherry Chen, who is leaving us at the end of September to devote more time to her charity work all over the world, but especially in Africa. This will be her last sitting.
I would like to have said a lot about these two exceptional people, but because I am using the little time that I have, I will just say that I will be missing them very much. I am sure that most of you will do so too.
We were requested to wear traditional clothing today, but that has been quite a challenge for me. [Laughter.] On the paternal side I am of Scottish ancestry, but each successive Watson, from my great-grandfather onwards, married an Afrikaans lady, just like I did. So, I can't appear here today wearing a Scottish kilt, and sporting bagpipes, or even worse in a khaki boere outfit, with a voorlaaier [muzzle-loading rifle] slung over my shoulder.
My earlier childhood was spent amongst the Xhosa people; so I also suppose that I qualify for a knobkierie and a red ochre-stained calico blanket. Then again, my formative years were spent with my parents in Lesotho. I could also have worn a Basotho hat and a genuine pitso blanket. I don't know if you know what the pitso blanket is. [Laughter.] However, I do think that my pale face would have given me away. So, in the end, I settled for a traditional dark suit and a white shirt. I hope you will forgive me.
On a serious note, I think we are on very thin ice in saying that we are celebrating our living human treasures because we really have very little to celebrate. The governing party of this country is in turmoil because of the infighting. Just three days ago, the local municipality of Nokeng Tsa Taemane, in Gauteng, was disbanded because of this. We have heard that heads will be rolling next Monday. I am not sure what that is all about.
Municipalities, which should be the lifeline of service delivery to our people, are in turmoil, especially outside the Western Cape where the DA is governing. [Interjections.] Hon member, you are welcome to comment, but through the Chairperson. I can see that the hon Adams has been writing his speech. [Interjections.]