Chairperson, thank you for the last opportunity to speak in the Third Parliament. Somebody said to me yesterday evening that I cannot plan for not coming back and that I must always plan for coming back. I do not know what he meant by that. I am still trying to analyse that statement, but the Chairperson has already indicated that some of us may not come back and some of us may come back.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Peggy Hollander, for the support she has given me and the institution for the period of five years. Thanks to the Chairpersons, hon Mildred Oliphant and hon Tsietsi Setona. I am always battling to pronounce his name. They have done outstanding work in supporting the presiding officers in making this institution function better and more effectively.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the former Chief Whip, the hon Windvol, who played a very important role in assisting me as a presiding officer of this Council and other presiding officers. He did an outstanding job. I want to thank you very much for the period you have served. I also want to thank the current Chief Whip, the hon Nosipho Ntwanambi, and all the Whips that work with her to make the programme of this institution very effective and to deliver the services that this House is expected to deliver in terms of the Constitution.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all chairpersons of committees. I thank all the members of this Parliament who belong to different committees. To a certain extent, I also want to thank all political parties. [Applause.] Although we come as a single delegation from provinces, we do have our political parties. Thank you very much for the support you gave to this House and your provinces. I think we have delivered. We have done outstanding work as the NCOP within this five-year period. I don't doubt the work we have achieved in the institution. [Applause.] I thank you for your sacrifice, dedication, determination, energy, enthusiasm and everything you have done. This is the most wonderful team I have ever worked with in the past five years. I think we ended the term on a very high note, and that is what I expected. I am very happy in my heart. I can go home and sleep peacefully because we have delivered as the NCOP. [Applause.]
I would like to thank the staff of the NCOP for the wonderful work they have done - the Table staff and everybody in the NCOP. I think you have done a sterling job in supporting us. Without you we could not have achieved the work we have done. [Applause.]
I have also been tasked to say to the committees, which have been very energetic in going back and visiting provinces and doing oversight functions under the good leadership of the chairpersons, that we noticed the results of the work you have done on the ground. Thank you very much. You are outstanding people. [Applause.]
I want to thank this institution for entrusting me and my organisation, the ANC, with this responsibility as the Chairperson of the Council. I have been elected by all of you to serve you. Thank you very much that you did not elect me and then chase me away thereafter. Instead, you supported me all the way until I finished my term. I wish to thank you very much. Goodbye! [Applause.]