Baie dankie, mnr die Voorsitter. Dit was 'n jaar van groot verwikkelinge op die politieke terrein, op die ekonomiese terrain, en, soos dit in die politiek maar gebeur, was daar op sommige terreine beter samewerking.
Daar was ook terreine waarop ons van mekaar verskil het as kollegas. Ek het nrens bitsigheid ervaar wanneer ons met ons kollegas van ander partye verskil het nie. Daar was wel skerp verskille, maar geen bitsigheid nie. Daar is 'n groot mate van kollegialiteit in hierdie Huis en 'n mens waardeer dit werklik. Dit was 'n aangename jaar gewees. Dit was lekker om saam te werk, Voorsitter. Ons gaan 'n baie veeleisende tydperk tegemoet. Van ons gaan na die verkiesing terugkom en ander gaan nie.
Hier is 'n groep wat wel gaan terugkom, en dit is die amptenare en die personeel. Hulle gaan terugkom en vir hulle moet ons baie dankie s vir wat hulle doen. Hul lojaliteit l grootliks by die instansie van die Parlement en ons is dankbaar teenoor hulle. Hier is 'n instansie hier anderkant wat ek pas ook by was, naamlik die biblioteek. Ek maak baie gebruik van die biblioteek en ek kry baie goeie samewerking en hulp van hulle. Van my kant af wil ek hulle ook bedank vir dit wat hulle doen.
Daar l 'n baie aangename tyd vir ons voor en ek wens u en al u kollegas 'n baie aangename tyd toe. Laat ons ook in hierdie tyd van welbehae dink aan die baie ander mense wat nie die voorregte het wat ons het nie. Baie dankie vir 'n aangename jaar en goeie wense vir u almal. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.) [Dr F J VAN HEERDEN: Thank you, Mr Chairperson. It's been a year of significant complications in the political sphere, in the economic sphere and, as is bound to happen in politics, in some spheres there was better co- operation.
There were also areas in which we differed with one another as colleagues. I never experienced any acrimony when we differed with our colleagues from other parties. There were indeed acute differences, but no acrimony. There is a great degree of collegiality in this House and one really appreciates that. It has been a pleasant year. It was nice to work together, Chairperson. We are heading for a very demanding period. After the elections some of us will be returning, and others not.
There is a group which will be returning and they are the officials and the staff. They will return and we must thank them very much for everything they do. Their loyalty lies mainly with the institution of Parliament and we are grateful to them. A service is rendered right here, and I was there just now, namely the library. I use the library a lot and I receive very good co-operation and assistance from them. From my side I also want to thank them for what they are doing.
A pleasant time lies ahead of us and I wish you and your colleagues a very good time. Let us, in this time of goodwill, also remember the many others who do not enjoy our privileges. Thank you for a pleasant year and good wishes to you all. Thank you. [Applause.]]