Deputy Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues, the hon Kenneth Meshoe and hon Steve Swart, I thank you Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers, and fellow Members of Parliament. Thank you for your dedication and hard work, and for being you. We have been challenged and inspired, and we do appreciate you.
Thank you, Lord, for the awesome privilege of serving the people of South Africa through the institution of Parliament. Thank you for the institution of Parliament and for the amazing people we cross paths with every day who make it work, the officials, researchers, legal advisers, administrative clerks, Chamber staff, catering staff, security staff, cleaners, etc. You are a blessing.
Thank you, Lord, for a South African people who have grown to appreciate more and more the benefits of a democratic process of governance. You are our cause, our mission and our inspiration because you are God's cause, mission and inspiration.
Yesterday I was just thinking how amazing the early days of this Fourth Parliament have been as we gathered in a Joint Sitting of both Houses of Parliament, at the bidding of the President, to say farewell to former Chief Justice Langa, and to welcome Chief Justice Ngcobo. It felt like a family function, so natural. How weird is that? We are a peculiar people from such diverse backgrounds and walks of life, with different world views, personalities, gifts and abilities. And yet whether we like it or not, wanted it or not; we are a people.
It is difficult not to feel respect, appreciation and empathy for such a people. We have a common cause, and that is the people of South Africa. We also have a shared responsibility, a responsibility which is not carried lightly.
I will conclude with the words of Frederick Buechner:
You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you, but, at the same time, you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, and your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you. We pray you'll have a happy Christmas and that the new year will bring many blessings. Thank you.