Ngiyabingelela sibonge ukuqeda unyaka, obewunyaka noko obungelula, omude kuneminingi, obunezinkinga kanye nezimangaliso. Ngiyabonga kodwa ukufika kuleli thuba. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Greetings to you all, and we are grateful for ending the year; a year that was not easy at all, that was longer than the rest, and which had problems and surprises. But I am grateful to reach this stage.]
May I also indulge your patience. Let us close our eyes and think of the last Christmas we had. I want to take this House on a journey, a journey into the time of lapho itshe lisancinzwa ngozipho [when a stone had to be raised with fingernails.]
Think of green scenery, colourful flowers, the rain, the sun, the beaches and the picnics. Do we remember when we had family, Christmas trees, the singing, the concerts, the jokes, the love overflowing, the food, the house calls and the spirit of sharing? Open your eyes.
As public representatives, may we revive that spirit in our constituencies, although there are economic constraints.
Ukujabula akuvinjwa ubuphofu, ukujabula buhamba nokufisa umoya omnandi nokwakha ubuhlobo obuqinile noma siqhutshwa ukuthi siyafuna ukusebenza ngokwepolitiki ake sikusebenzele kodwa ukujabula kwesizwe nabantu bakithi. Ake siwakhe umoya kakhisimuzi nomoya kaNcibijane omnandi. Khisimuzi omuhle malunga. Ngiyabonga. Merry Christmas. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Happiness is not hindered by destitution; happiness is accompanied by a good spirit and the building of a strong relationship. Even though we are politically motivated, let us work to ensure the happiness of the nation and our fellow people. Let us revive the good spirit of Christmas and New Year. Merry Christmas, hon members. Thank you.]