Chairperson, thank you very much. Let me greet the Chairperson of the NCOP and everybody present here. Today is a very special day for me in this House. I can say that in our language ... [Interjections.] No, I will tell you later which language it is. All of us here in this House are recruits. I started my parliamentary career in this House in 1994. I don't think any of the members sitting here now were present when I started 15 years ago.
I started in 1994 as an ANC member. Today I am standing here as a proud member of Cope. [Applause.] I'm very proud to represent my party, the Congress of the People, Cope. [Interjections.] Yes, the real one. There is only one congress of the people and its president is Terror Lekota. [Interjections.] I don't want to make too many remarks like this, because some members' blood pressure is rising. [Interjections.] I don't want to do that. [Interjections.] Let me rather address our task here, because I can see Tau wants to fall from his seat. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] I mean the hon Tau, yes.
The role of Parliament is what I want to touch on, because ... goodness, I have two minutes! [Laughter.] No, but we must address this issue of minutes. It is very important. Chairperson, you have raised the issue of building a united South Africa, but if we want to build a united South Africa, let us hear the views of everybody in the House.
About the responsibility of Parliament, let us make it very clear that Parliament is not just one House, which is the National Assembly. Parliament is both Houses. If we want to make our mark, then all of us in this House must take our responsibility very seriously, namely that of oversight.
We must check each and every department and the Ministers. The executive is accountable to this House. When we need them, they must come! People will take this House seriously when we take that responsibility very seriously.
The second issue is resources. We must never, ever have a situation where we have to complain in committees that there are not enough funds to go to a certain place or to do oversight. It is our job! [Interjections.] You see, that is a chairperson who is screaming, "Yes, yes, yes!" there. He must take his responsibility very seriously.
Lastly, Cope is going to make its mark in this building! Cope is going to make its mark in South Africa! [Interjections.] [Time expired.] Dankie, Mama. Thank you very much! [Laughter.]