Hon Chairperson, hon Chief Justice, delegates here present, guests in the gallery, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to you all. Let me also add my voice in congratulating you, Chairperson, on being elected to represent hon members of the various legislatures and the hon premiers from all the provinces, especially abomama [the ladies]. [Applause.]
Today marks a very important occasion in the history of our democracy, especially after the masses of our people spoke so clearly during the fourth democratic elections of our country.
Your re-election, hon Chairperson, epitomises a vote of confidence by your party, the ANC, and generally by the provinces represented in this House. It points to your personal vibrant, consultative, accessible and visionary leadership, and it embraces the principles of change and continuity.
Your previous record as a negotiator at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, Codesa, as a member of the Constitutional Assembly and as Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP from 2005 speaks for itself and qualifies you as a seasoned cadre in the struggle to improve the lives of our people.
I would be failing in my responsibilities if I did not remind you of the tasks we have been dealing with in the Speakers' Forum, which include the finalisation of the formalisation of the sector policy with all nine provinces and national Parliament - in fact, the critical issue there is implementation more than formalisation - redefining the role of the sector in deepening democracy and nation-building; and capacity-building of public representatives in order to enable them to discharge their constitutional obligations.
This House would agree that we still have the challenge of ensuring that the legislative arm of government is taken seriously in all spheres of life. It is, therefore, our duty to make sure that such seriousness does prevail.
During the previous elections, the people of South Africa spoke and they have spoken loud and clear. It is mainly up to this House, hon Chairperson, to ensure that this government delivers on its promises. This House is strategically positioned to see to it that our people are not disappointed.
Through your leadership, hon Chairperson, we shall be constantly reminded that members of this House are not just ordinary Members of Parliament, but delegates of provinces. And, in fulfilling their responsibilities, the true meaning of the word "delegate" must be realised. The current existing bridge between the three spheres of government should be history as our democracy matures. Our people have worked so hard for our freedom, yet the challenges of poverty, unemployment, HIV and Aids continue to undermine our efforts, especially in provinces like the Eastern Cape.
It is high time we review our strategies of involving the public in the process of lawmaking, oversight and building co-operative government. The level and approach to oversight needs to focus more on the impact of the more than 1 000 pieces of legislation already passed. We need to ask ourselves the question: What has the massive production of laws done for our people?
In conclusion, hon Chairperson, on behalf of the people of the Eastern Cape, I would like to congratulate you on your election and wish you all the best in your service. I would also like to congratulate our President, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, on his election yesterday and to wish him well as he will be taking on the challenge of leading South Africa into being a more democratic and peaceful country. I wish you all the best. Remember that working together we can do more. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chair, Chief Justice, premiers, hon members, colleagues, friends and family, I would also like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Free State delegates, to congratulate you on your nomination as Chairperson. This shows that the ANC has confidence in you that you will be able to push through all that we have committed to in our manifesto. I would further like to welcome our fellow colleagues from the Free State to Cape Town. It is a cold and exciting city. I hope you will find it very interesting. However, our core function here as delegates is to make sure that the executive is accountable and to make sure that our people lead a better life and that we bring about a better life for all our people in South Africa especially in the Free State as the Free State delegates.
As the people have spoken, we know there are ideological differences, but we know which processes to put in place. However, we might differ on the technicalities and implementation. Chair, with these few words, I would like to congratulate you and welcome all hon members. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Chief Justice Langa, premiers present here today, my colleagues Premier Zille and Premier Kiviet, permanent delegates and nonpermanent delegates of the NCOP, ladies and gentlemen, fellow comrades, I stand here in this important House of the NCOP, on behalf of the people of Gauteng, to congratulate you, Chairperson, on being elected to this particular position.
With regard to this House, we, the people of Gauteng, regard it as an important institution in our democracy. We are quite confident that with your election, the work we have done in the past 15 years will be taken to even greater heights. The challenges facing us continue to be the creation of decent work, providing quality health care and education, and fighting crime and corruption, as well as ensuring rural development.
The ANC government will ensure that in the next five years these challenges are addressed working together with our people, in partnership with the private sector and in the promotion of foreign investment in South Africa. I therefore wish you well in your responsibilities and will ensure that the NCOP functions as expected.
Lastly, on behalf of the people of Gauteng, I also want to thank the millions and millions of people of South Africa who have again affirmed the responsibilities of the ANC through voting in greater numbers and ensuring that indeed we defend our gains but include all the weaknesses we experienced over the past 15 years. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Chief Justice, premiers and delegates of the SA Local Government Association, Salga, hon members, it's always a privilege to congratulate someone on such an important position. On behalf of Cope, we feel privileged to congratulate all members that have been sworn in here today. It's also a privilege to congratulate you, hon Mahlangu, on your election as Chairperson of this House. We trust and believe that you will do what you did so very well in the previous term. The political landscape in South Africa has changed dramatically and this development will certainly also have an impact on this House, the federal foundation of the provinces. Cope has become one of the leading political role-players in South Africa. With seven members sworn in here today, I can assure you that Cope will also have an impact on and role in the NCOP.
Although good and solid foundations have been laid, we must admit that a lot of work still needs to be done in terms of monitoring and evaluating service delivery and spending allocated budgets. You were right, hon Chairperson, when you said that we must be agents for change. We agree with you. We must be agents for the poor, the jobless people and the marginalised people, but we must also be agents for the people that create wealth and jobs in our country. We must be agents for the farmers, for the teachers and for our society at large. So, if this is going to be the mandate of this august House, Cope will be there to support you. I want to once again congratulate you. Thank you.
Sihlalo omusha sha ... [Uhleko.] ... nomphathi omkhulu wamajaji - engizwe lapha esifungisa ethi bakhaya - kuyimvela kancane ukuzwa ijaji lithi mkhaya, oNdunankulu abakhona. SiyiKwaZulu-Natali, okokuqala sihalalisela onke amalunga alo Mkhandlu akhethiwe. Okwesibili sihalalisela uMhlonishwa u-Comrade M J Mahlangu ngokuphinde aqokwe yinhlangano yabantu eqokwe yizigidigidi zabantu baseNingizimu Afrika ukubusa le minyaka eyisihlanu ukuba aphinde ahole lo Mkhandlu. Sithi halala kuwe mfo kaMahlangu, halala!
IKwaZulu-Natali eholwa nguDokotela Zweli Mkhize ikufisela ukusebenza okuhle okunesithunzi, ukuzithoba kanye nokuhlonipha nomsebenzi oncomekayo owenzayo. Okokugcina, sibongela inqola emasondosondo inhlangano yabantu i- African National Congress eholwa nguMongameli, uMhlonishwa uJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma ngokudla umhlanganiso okhethweni luka-2009. Hawu! Bantu baseNingizimu Afrika into enhle nemnandi iyaphindwa, anophinda futhi nangomuso. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Mr D D GAMEDE: The brand-new Chairperson ... [Laughter.] ... Chief Justice - whom I heard when he was swearing us in calling us homeboys; it is very rare to hear a judge calling one a homeboy - and the premiers present here, as KwaZulu-Natal, we would like to congratulate all the elected members of this Council. Secondly, we congratulate the hon Comrade M J Mahlangu for redeployment by the people's party which was overwhelmingly voted in by millions of people in South Africa to govern for the next five years, to lead this Council. We are saying congratulations, Mr Mahlangu, congratulations!
KwaZulu-Natal, under the leadership of Dr Zweli Mkhize, wishes you a good term in office filled with dignity, humility, and respect, and recognises the sterling work that you are doing. Lastly, we congratulate the giant liberation movement, the people's party, the African National Congress which is under the leadership of the President, His Excellency Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma for winning the 2009 elections. Wow, people of South Africa, one good turn deserves another: kindly do it again in future. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon Chairperson, hon premiers present here, hon Chief Justice, members of this august House, I must remind this House that Limpopo is a Garden of Eden, which simply suggests that it is a province of peace, stability, happiness - everything.
Hon Chairperson, it is a great honour for us as Limpopo to also be given an opportunity to join other provinces in congratulating you on being elected as Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
This is history in the making. It is indeed the continuation of ensuring that the national democratic revolution is still on course. This is indeed furtherance of the ANC commitment, since the 1994 elections, to improving the lives of all South Africans across the colour line.
Hon Chairperson, we feel that the five priorities that the ANC conference identified at the Polokwane conference will be implemented under your leadership, and as this august House we feel inspired and encouraged and, I think, you will keep us on our toes.
Hon Chair, under your leadership we will also ensure that the policies and the legislative gaps that were not addressed in the last 15 years are addressed. We take this opportunity to congratulate you on your new responsibilities, hoping that under your leadership this august House will perform better than ever before and, of course, with the contribution of members of this House.
Ba re: "Tau t?a hloka seboka di ?itwa ke nare e hlot?a". [It is said: "Together we stand, divided we fall."]
From Limpopo, we'd like to congratulate you on your new responsibilities. We say, feel encouraged, you have our support behind you for the next five years. I thank you. [Applause.]
I don't think you want an interpretation of "tau t?a hloka seboka di ?itwa ke nare e hlot?a" [together we stand, divided we fall]. You all understand that. The next speaker is Mr Watson. I know he will interpret that.
Hon Chairperson, hon premiers present here today, hon members, on behalf of the DA may I, first of all, welcome the special premier of the new government of the Western Cape - she is here, where we are seated - the hon Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille. [Applause.] I also rise to congratulate you, Chairperson, on your re-election to this important office.
Sihlalo, siyakuhalalisela ngokukhethwa kwakho. Sithembe ukuthi umthandazo wethu uzohamba phambili, umsebenzi uqhubeke ukuze bonke abantu baseNingizimu Afrika babone ukuthi thina lapha eMkhandlwini KaZwelonke Wezifundazwe sisebenzela bona asisebenzeli izikhwama zethu. [Uhleko.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, we congratulate you on your election. We hope that our work will take priority; our work must go on so that the people of South Africa can see that here in the National Council of Provinces we are working for them and not for our own pockets. [Laughter.]]
Voorsitter, ons is almal pas deur 'n baie felle stryd in hierdie verkiesing. Dit het weer na vore gekom dat, ongeag die uitslag, die groot uitdagings van die land van die verlede ons nog steeds in die gesig staar. Ons het nog steeds werkloosheid, armoede, korrupsie, nepotisme, misdaad, Vigs, en nou's daar nog ook varkgriep wat ons dringend sal moet aanspreek. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, we have all just been through a very fierce contest in this election. It has once again come to the fore, irrespective of the results, that we are still faced with the country's biggest challenges of the past. We still have unemployment, poverty, corruption, nepotism, crime, Aids, and now swine flu too that we will have to urgently address.]
Whilst it is true that we, as delegates, represent the provinces, it must never be forgotten that we are part of these delegations precisely as a result of the votes out there for our different parties. That must never be forgotten.
Three million voters have entrusted their hopes and their aspirations to the DA. My team and I - and I welcome them here as part of the team of this House but especially as part of the DA's team - will ensure that the trust of the voters out there will never be betrayed.
In my province, Mpumalanga, when the new premier, Mr D D Mabuza, was declared elected yesterday, one of the visitors in the audience shouted "At last!" In his congratulatory speech, the leader of the DA in Mpumalanga, Anthony Benade, said that he hoped that the remarks from those supporters of Mr Mabuza did not mean, "At last we also have a seat on the gravy train; at last, we also have a part of the spoils". [Interjections.]
Our task - and we must all understand it very well - is to ensure, through proper and diligent oversight, despite the shouts from my friend, Papi, down here, that the spoils never ever go to anybody individually, that nobody shares in the profits of this country, except that we all work diligently to better the lives of the people out there, especially those who are suffering. Only they should benefit from whatever we do as an elected House, as a Parliament. In all our endeavours, we should also ensure that true democracy is always practised in an open-opportunity society.
We will work together with you and support you and the other parties for as long as you, the governing party, remain true to those tenets. But we will vigorously oppose you and anything that is contrary to that. Let us all help to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
Sebetsa ka kgotso, Modulasetulo, Modimo a be le wena. [Mahofi.] [Work well, Mr Chairperson. May God be with you. [Applause.]]
Order! Mr Watson, I appreciate that Papi is your friend ... [Laughter.] ... But when you address him in this House he is an hon member.
Hon Papi. [Laughter.]
Hon Chief Justice, hon Chairperson, hon members, we in Mpumalanga also join the rest of the people in congratulating you, Chairperson, on your election as Chairperson.
We view this House as the most important House of all, not because of the work it does in lawmaking, but because of the contributions it has made in the past terms. This House has served as a platform for us to share experiences, lessons learnt and best practices. With regard to those activities, Mpumalanga has benefited much from your leadership. We have enhanced our performance in terms of budget management and project management precisely because we were able to share the best practices of other provinces.
Indeed, the votes of over 11 million people in South Africa serve as acknowledgement of the good work that this House has done together with the National Assembly. It is also an acknowledgement that the people voted for education, health care, decent work, rural development and a party that is able to fight crime.
When they say "At last!" they mean, "At last our branches have spoken; our people have determined where they want to go; our people have determined their agenda, and somebody has listened." [Applause.]
It is for this reason that we congratulate you, along with the members of this House, and will continue to work with you. There is still more to be done and we believe that you will assist us to move forward, as you have done in the past. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Chief Justice, hon premiers here present and hon members, the ID would like to congratulate Mr Zuma on his election as President of South Africa and to congratulate the respective premiers of the different provinces on their election. We would also like to congratulate our Chairperson on again being elected NCOP Chairperson. It is an enormous task to lead this House.
The ID would also like to add its voice to the voiceless - to that of Mr Chabangu in the Northern Cape who cannot speak for himself. This House will speak on his behalf to ensure that his desire for a better life becomes a reality.
As the NCOP, we have a difficult task ahead in tackling the enormous challenges we face in terms of addressing unemployment and poverty, combating crime, improving health care and education, and improving service delivery to all our people in the various provinces.
I would like to make the plea today that this House take these challenges very seriously, especially in the Northern Cape. The Northern Cape is a vast province with the least number of people in this country. This province is rich in minerals which the people of the Northern Cape can become the custodians of so that these minerals benefit them and better their lives.
The ID acknowledges that there are many good ideas and policies, but the key challenge is implementation. We hope that through this House we will be able to show the necessary political will to drive implementation. As the ID representatives in this House, we will continue to be vigilant and to keep a close eye on government to ensure that it remains accountable and transparent and upholds the letter and spirit of the Constitution. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson of the NCOP, Chief Justice, premiers and Speakers, members of the NCOP, all delegates, the people of South Africa have demonstrated their everlasting trust, overwhelming support and undoubted confidence in their leaders and parties. On 22 April 2009 they cast their votes. The new political leadership has now been ushered in and that is why we are here today.
Our response to the challenge before us is to do what the fourth President, President Jacob Zuma, accentuated and alluded to in his speech yesterday - we need to serve our people with dignity and respect and ensure that there is unity.
It is our responsibility as leaders of different parties to ensure that we forge unity and ensure that there is dignity and respect at all times. Key to that aspect is delivering on our mandate. It is a great pleasure and honour for us as the North West to be part of this crucial process and to be associated with this team, a team geared towards bettering the lives of all South Africans.
On behalf of the government of the North West, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Chairperson of the NCOP, the office bearer, on his election today. A firm foundation has been laid by your predecessors and previously by you. Please take advantage of the gains already made and continue to improve the lives of South Africans with vigour, passion and dedication. The North West commits itself to giving you, Chairperson, its full support in all your endeavours and at all times. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate again President Jacob Zuma on his election as President of the country.
Ndithi kuye simnqwenelela ubomi obude nempumelelo emsebenzini wakhe. [We wish him a long life and success in his work.]
Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Chief Justice, hon Chairperson Mahlangu, hon premiers, permanent and special delegates, friends and guests, it is a very great honour to lead the Western Cape delegation in this august House today. As Premier of the Western Cape, I take this House and our provincial delegations from every province, who have a crucial role here, very seriously indeed.
The National Council of Provinces plays a critical role in ensuring that provincial interests are taken into account in this Parliament. This is your constitutional mandate and one that must be at the heart of every decision that this House takes. You must never forget that federalism, comprising distinct spheres of government, was a key principle agreed to during our constitutional negotiations.
The NCOP, as the conduit from the provinces to the national Parliament, is the living embodiment of this compact. The mandate is to make provincial voices heard. The mandate does not come from Polokwane, and it is essential to begin to understand the distinction between the party and the state if this democracy is to work. [Interjections.] [Applause.] Otherwise, this democracy will fail.
Order, hon members! Order!
We don't want to be a failed democracy; let's always remember that.
The NCOP also has a crucial role to play in the oversight of the executive. I hope that every member of this House, regardless of political affiliation, will strive to hold this government to account when it falters. This is our duty to the citizens of this country. It must come before any political loyalties or affiliation. It is not a question of my leader or my party, right or wrong. It is our duties to the Constitution and to the voters that matter.
A constitutional democracy such as ours requires that every institution designed to provide a check and balance on power abuse does so all the time, and we have seen the consequences already of some failures to do just that.
We are mindful that the Western Cape is the only province not to be governed by the ruling party nationally. I would like to take this opportunity to assure the members of this House that we will, at all times, work with every other sphere of government in the spirit of co-operative governance as we are enjoined to do in the Constitution. But we will expect that the letter and spirit of the Constitution are also demonstrated towards us as well.
Finally, we congratulate you, hon Mahlangu, on your re-election as Chairperson. We trust that you will continue to use your office to ensure that the NCOP fulfils its constitutional mandate and that it exercises oversight of the executive without fear or favour.
Chairperson, we believe that you have done a good and competent job in your role in the past. That is why we did not oppose you in this election and, indeed, we stood to applaud you. But may I also say that at this time it was completely wrong for some hon members to chant "ANC", which illustrates that a lot of people have a lot to learn about the separation between the party and the state, and the role of this august House. [Interjections.] And they certainly, Chairperson, do not understand your role as an independent Chair of this House. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sihlalo, Mabhoko, ngiyakuhalalisela egameni leqembu leNkatha Yenkululeko ukuthi ubuye, futhi bakwethembe kule Ndlu ukuthi uhole umkhankaso wokuthi uphucule izimpilo zabantu bakithi. Ngithi kungumsebenzi wethu sonke malunga ahloniphekile ukuba sisebenzele ukwethembeka ezweni elihle eNingizimu Afrika.
Ukwethembeka kwethu kofuneka ukuthi sikwenze ngokuthi singakwazi ukuthi siphazamisane ngezinhlelo zokusebenza. Thina njengabantu ebebecindezelwe kuleli lizwe kufuze ukuba kubekhona ukubambana noma kuthiwa imibono yethu yehlukene ukuze sikwazi ukufeza izidingo zaleli lizwe.
Ngikhuluma lapha hhayi njengenkosi yakwaZulu kodwa njengobukhosi bakwaZulu. Hhayi njengenkosi Mhlonishwa Sihlalo, kusho ukuthi kubhaleke ngendlela ekabi ngoba omunye umuntu uma esekubona uyokhuluma ukuthi ngafika ngathi ngiyinkosi lapha, but I am a member of the Zulu Royal family [kodwa ngiyilunga lase Ndlunkulu yobukhosi bakwa Zulu] kungakho ngithi Mabhoko ngoba ungu mukhwe wethu ngokwakithi kwaZulu.
Ukuthunyelwa yisiFundazwe sa KwaZulu-Natali ngithi ku bafowethu esihambisana nabo kofuneka sisebenzele izidingo zabantu ba KwaZulu-Natali. Ukuthi imiqondo yethu yehlukene ngengokuthi iKwaZulu-Natali yiSifundazwe esisodwa esingaphansi kweNingizimu Afrika eyodwa kofuneka sisebenzele izidingo zabantu ba KwaZulu-Natali. Ukuhlukana kwemiqondo kuyobe kuxoxwa kuSishayamthetho sa KwaZulu-Natali kodwa uma sesilapha kufuneka senelise izidingo zabo bonke abantu ba KwaZulu-Natali ngengoba b eyakhele.
Ngithi Mabhoko ngiyakuhalalisela mnewethu esikhundleni sakho ukuba ukwazi ukuphatha iqembu lakho likwethembe ukuthi uphathe iminyaka eyisihlanu. Ngithi halala Mabhoko! [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Chairperson, Mabhoko, on behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party, I congratulate you on being redeployed to your position and on this House electing you to lead the campaign of making the lives of our people better. I submit that it is the responsibility of all of us, hon members, to strive for integrity in this beautiful country, South Africa.
We should strive for integrity in a manner that does not interfere with the processes of service delivery. We, as the people who were oppressed in this country, should be united regardless of having different views so that we are able to meet the needs of this country.
I am speaking here not as the Zulu king, but as a member of the Zulu royal family; not as the king, hon Chairperson, which means there was a error in the writing of my title, because if someone sees this they will say I came here to Parliament and introduced myself as the king, but I am a member of the Zulu royal family, which is why I say "Mabhoko" because you are the father-in-law to the Zulu royal family.
As delegated by the province of KwaZulu-Natal, I would like to say to my colleagues from the province that we will need to work for the needs of the people of KwaZulu-Natal. The fact is that we have different views, such as that KwaZulu-Natal is one province which belongs to one South Africa, but we should work for the needs of the people of KwaZulu-Natal. Our different views will be debated upon at the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, but when we get here we need to fulfil the needs of all the people of KwaZulu-Natal as citizens.
I am congratulating you, Mabhoko, my brother, on your position that allows you to lead and on your party entrusting you with this duty for five years. I say congratulations, Mabhoko! [Applause.]]
Hon Chair, hon Chief Justice, hon premiers present, special delegates from different provinces, may I take this opportunity on behalf of the Premier or the Premier-elect of the Northern Cape, Comrade Hazel Jenkins, to congratulate you on your re-election as Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. Of course, we have worked with you. We know the capacity that you have. We know the ability that you have. We know the strength that you possess and the skills, of course, that have enabled you to guide this institution from the time you were elected Chairperson of this particular institution.
It is with that that we as the Northern Cape unequivocally and unashamedly, on behalf of the ANC which is the organisation that has been given the overwhelming mandate by the electorate in this country to govern, say to you: Amandla kulo ndawo! [We support that!] Viva!
We hope that, with the strength the electorate has given you, with the theme under which the ANC has gone out to mobilise the people of South Africa to ensure that it returns it with more strength, we will be able to say that together - not only with us in this House, but together with the provinces, the municipalities, the premiers, the working class, the poor and the unemployed in our rural and urban areas - we shall definitely do more. We shall strengthen and entrench this institution. We shall popularise it and ensure that all provinces and everybody in this country understand the strategic role and the strategic location of the National Council of Provinces.
Through that, we will, therefore, be able to position this particular institution to be the kind of institution that the unemployed people and the poor people will obviously look to to resolve their problems. Of course, this will be together with them, not in isolation or as an institution working in silos, but ensuring that it takes along the people of South Africa in ensuring that we build a better life for all. In that way, hon Chair, once again on behalf of the Northern Cape, "Siyakuhalalisela baba" [we congratulate you; we will work with you]. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Chair, on behalf of the ANC I stand here to congratulate you. I also want to congratulate those women who have been elected premiers in our country. However, I want to remind the premier of my province that this is not an island. We don't have an island in our country ... [Applause.] ... and if we don't respond to what she said, people will assume that she is representing the people of the Western Cape. I must say, she has won the election, but she has not won the minds and hearts of our people. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
I want to say, Chair, and of course, hon Chief Justice, that I am not a racist. If she wants to lead her race she has the right to do so. She has won the race to lead, but not the people of my province. This is my home, and she has to be very serious when she leads the people of this province.
Hon Chairperson, I want to say to those who don't know the Chair - we here in the ANC and in the NCOP call him M J; that is people who know him very well - that having worked with him for more that 10 years now, I know how good a leader he is. After the elections of 1994, the ANC deployed him in the National Assembly. There he was Chairperson of Committees. To prove that he can lead, he was then deployed to the NCOP in 2002. In 2005, after the death of our leader, Joyce Kgoali, he was then deployed to be Chairperson of the NCOP.
He has represented South Africa at many international conferences and seminars in Germany, Sweden, the US and Kenya. And, of course, he was also privileged in 2007 to be elected Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: Africa Region. He has served the ANC in different capacities. For example, he served on one of the most important committees of the ANC - the legislature and government subcommittee of the national executive committees.
Chairperson, you know our House is constituted to ensure that provinces are given an effective voice in the national legislative process. It also has a specific function with regard to lawmaking and is required to bring a different set of sensibilities to perspectives on lawmaking. In particular, it must give a voice to the perspectives of the country's nine provinces, and provide a platform for local government to participate in the legislative deliberations.
Our House has now reached new heights in mobilising the people to take part in discussions that affect their lives, and holds government departments accountable for the delivery of quality services to our communities. In general, there has been an increase and a positive response to the NCOP's programmes and public deliberations by the people of South Africa. I think we all agree that this has happened under the keen and watchful eye of you, M J, at the helm of the NCOP.
On behalf of the ANC, Chair, it is my honour and privilege to congratulate you again on your election as Chairperson. This says, in other words, that the ANC has confidence in you. I also want to say, Chair, you know that all members in the House always support you. I must say that, for once, I agree with the hon Watson - he does respect you. I agree with him here but that's the only thing we agree on.
Lastly, I want to say ...
... siyababulela bonke abantu base Mzantsi abaye bathi ngomhla wama-22 ku- Apreli bavota. Ingakumbi abo baye bathi: Thina siyakuhlala sinje, sohlala siyi-ANC. Ngabantu ke abo ababaziyo ubomi; abo baye bathi: Phatha Zuma phatha! NgoMgqibelo siyambeka. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... we thank all the people of South Africa who voted on 22 April. Especially those who said, "We will forever remain members of the ANC." Those are the people who have experience in life, those who gave Zuma their mandate to govern. We will inaugurate him on Saturday.]
Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon members, I must acknowledge some of the former members of this House I see in the gallery. They have decided to cross the floor and go to the National Assembly. But I'm sure very soon they will want to come back. I see the former House Chairperson, the hon Mildred, in the gallery. I saw Mr Ntuli there and I saw Mrs Robinson there. I don't know what happened to Mr Robinson. I think there are other people there that I can't see. Ms Nyanda is also there. All of you are welcome if you want to come back. [Laughter.] They know that in the NCOP there are no backbenchers; they know that. All of you have work to do. You will see that next week when the ball starts rolling.
I must apologise to all members for our interpretation services failing us. You may not have heard one or two things that were said in other languages. Staff, can you please look into that? We shouldn't be having all these problems.
Ladies and gentleman, hon members, that concludes the business for the day and the House is adjourned. Thank you very much.