Chairperson, there is not much that we should make a fuss about after this very elaborate elucidation of both the intention and the content of this Bill. What is left for us is just to say a word of appreciation to all participants. To the hon Dhlamini, I want to apologise on behalf of the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation. He forgot to mention the IFP, I agree with you. But in the build-up to today, he has always mentioned the IFP's unstinting support for the Bill and creative contributions to the discussions building up to today. [Applause.]
He has also schooled me in what he calls "the Mac Kenzie clause", reminding me of a clause of the United Democratic Front once upon a time.
I really want to thank all parties for their contribution. What this House should take home tonight is that we have witnessed the actualisation of the slogan of the ability of sport to unite people and to consolidate communities into a cohesive entity for nation-building.
This is exactly what we have seen in this debate. No one could have identified the political homes of the speakers. The issue was very clear in front of all of us, that South Africa's integrity was at stake and the wellbeing of our people was at risk, and we needed to do something about it. It is true that there are challenges like the cost implications, hon Lee, but those are things we must deal with and take in our stride.
I am pleased to see the detailed understanding of members on how this Bill will work in terms of the grading of the risks that are attended to for each and every activity. It is not a blanket demand for all activities, hon Dudley, or for Christian activities or jazz festivals, hon Xingwana.
There will be a lesser demand, for instance, than for the World Cup either of rugby, cricket or soccer. These will be graded according to the risks as identified by our security forces. I also want to thank my colleague, Nyambose, son of Dingiswayo, the second King in this House; the first one is Faku. [Laughter.]
There were many obstacles on the way, as we should have anticipated in a Bill that traverses two national departments and makes a whole range of demands on both of them. It needed political leadership, a resolve to succeed with what we needed to succeed in. UNyambose was never stinting in his leadership, not even once; even when he was not present at the meeting he phoned. He was very clear. We moved forward, as the President would say, "vorentoe" [forward] and "vorentoe". We marched and here we are today. [Applause.]
Gideon Boshoff, when I arrived at the department, was sitting on a huge bundle of papers, which was the first draft of this Bill. I don't know how many hundreds of papers it was and I thought he was crazy. And I said, "What are you suggesting we do with this whole wheelbarrow of papers?"
Relentlessly he went back and forth. He had to deal with the hearings with me first before going to the hearings with the rest of society; and without any flinching, without any hesitation, he carried us right up to here. [Applause.] Hon Chairperson, even when copies of our Bill were lost three times somewhere here in this building, Gideon Boshoff reproduced other copies of this Bill each time.
We thank him and his team, and we say thank you for the whole logistical support that they received from other lawyers.
The cricket championship was a great success the an extent that yesterday we received a letter from Cricket South Africa announcing that the Indian cricket authorities - hon Bhoola, I must be careful now [Laughter.] - have again requested that South Africa host that tournament in September. [Applause.]
I am glad you are giving me the mandate to go to Cabinet and ask them to endorse that request. These are the events that, if handled properly, will enhance the stature of our country and deal with the Afro-pessimism that hon Dudley heard from Majavu. There will always be such people who tell you it will not happen, but we must make it happen despite the pessimists. Working together, as we did today, there is nothing that can stop us. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded. Bill read a second time.