Order! We now proceed to the election of a Rotating Deputy Chairperson for the National Council of Provinces. There will now be an opportunity for nomination of the Rotating Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. Let me explain what we mean by that for the sake of the people who are attending the National Council of Provinces for the first time. The Rotating Deputy Chair is created by the Rules, and he or she always comes from among the Premiers. You will understand that the Premiers are the leaders of the special delegates to the National Council of Provinces. Therefore they do a lot of work with the Presiding Officers of the National Council of Provinces. But after we have elected the Rotating Deputy Chair, I will say a few things that we need to do so that I also induct the newly Rotating Deputy Chair who will be elected. I don't know who that will be at the present moment. I will hear after he or she has been elected.
The Chairperson called for nominations.
Mr T W Mchunu, seconded by Ms N Moerane-Mamase, nominated Mr David Mabuza for election as Rotating Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
The Returning Officer reported to the Chairperson that the nomination paper had been properly completed.
There being no further nominations, the Chairperson declared Mr David Mabuza duly elected as Rotating Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
On behalf of all present here, I congratulate you on having been elected Rotating Deputy Chair of the National Council of Provinces. I now call upon the Rotating Deputy Chair to say a few words. [Applause.]
Chairperson and hon members, thank you for the opportunity to say one or two words. The rotation starts in Mpumalanga, so we are rotating.
We are very honoured. We feel very honoured and humbled, and want to assure the members present here and yourself that we regard this responsibility bestowed on us seriously, and we are going to do everything in our power to make the work of this House possible.
We are quite aware, hon Chair, that we have competing interests and priorities. We are expected to run a province with all the challenges that come with that responsibility. But we want to assure members here that this nomination is not just a nomination. It means that there is work I must do to support this House, and I am going to make it a point that I avail myself. I have to allow this House to do its work and proceed.
We accept this responsibility, knowing very well the responsibilities that come with it, availing ourselves from time to time, shuttling between the province and here. As much as the provincial legislature expects us to do work there, we will also be expected to support the work here. We are proud to be the first in the new democratic term to be recognised to fill the position of Rotating Deputy Chairperson. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Thank you, hon Premier. The good thing about Premier Mabuza is that he doesn't stay far from me. He has no way to dodge me! [Laughter.] That's the good thing about him! If I want to take a car on a Sunday morning and go to Nelspruit, I will find him. And he can do the same as well.
You see, the problem we have been having about the Rotating Deputy Chairs is this one ... It's actually a challenge; let me not call it a problem. We acknowledge that you have a lot of work also in the province. You are tasked with a lot of things you have to do, and it becomes very difficult at times to honour the work here also in this House.
I have asked a few Rotating Deputy Chairs, the outgoing ones, "please make yourself available for this House". We don't expect you here every day. As we have already said, if you get time, just make yourself available. We will appreciate it. We would like one day to see you sitting where I am, chairing this House. It would be a nice thing. You are holding a very important position, as a leader of special delegates. That is very important. It is a constitutional title that is very important. When we debate policy issues, we would want to see you leading those policy discussions in the NCOP. There are many, many things that we can do together to really get this House going. I am sure we will have some time, you and I, where we will sit down and ponder about a lot of things that we can do for the National Council of Provinces.
You have already mentioned co-operative government, which is the most important one. The Speaker will tell you how many times I have repeated in the past the importance and the relevance of working together, this House and the provinces. I am referring to Speaker Mthembu. He knows that. He attended a lot of our workshops in the National Council of Provinces. Because if we cannot work together as provinces and this House ... Constitutionally, you will remember our mandate is to take the interests of the provinces to heart and debate them here. This is the House where you should raise them: Local government issues, national issues and provincial issues. You should raise them here, not in another House. Some of the people prefer to run to the other House, where these things are not raised. This is where you raise them, and this is where we can attend to them quickly.
Former Speaker Mchunu would know how many letters he wrote to me really trying to assist this House, to get us into the meeting and all these things, and calling all Speakers of the provinces to debate all these issues. What I am trying to say is: Premier, you are going to play a very important role with regard to intergovernmental relations. Together with you, we are going to look at the question of the division of revenue, for example. How are the provinces utilising the division of revenue in the provinces? It is one money Bill that we have a very great interest in as the National Council of Provinces.
One day, if you have time, I will invite you to attend our Rules Committee. That is where we take important decisions. I will meet you from time to time at the Presidential Co-ordinating Council, where I will also raise quite a number of things. But I will brief you before, because I have to lobby you for your help. As you know, we are only 54 in this House. We want this House to be bigger than what it is. We want to increase the numbers. We will discuss all these things with you. But thank you, Premier, for considering taking this position. I was merely mentioning a few issues that will be facing you, and from time to time we will be discussing them, either in a meeting or even telephonically, or we will SMS each other. That is one way of communicating. I wish to thank you very much. [Applause.]