Madam Speaker, the Chinese have a very well-known saying or proverb to say as a wish, "May you live in interesting times". If one looks at what we've done in the past year, then, surely, this year we did live in very interesting times and we are not at the end of these interesting times. A number of colleagues have referred to the big conference of the ruling party at the end of the year and obviously the whole of South Africa will be watching what is going to happen there.
Let me start off by saying a word of sincere thank you to each and every colleague of ours in this House. It has been a very exhausting year, but I think in the end, despite all the political rumblings and all the differences, we remain colleagues of one another. I think it is very important that we send out a very constructive and positive message to the public in South Africa that we can co-operate in the interest of our country and we should continue to do so.
I also would like to say a word of sincere thanks to the parliamentary staff, each and every member of the staff, the catering staff, the messengers, everyone in protection services, each and every member of Parliament and the staff that made it easier for us this year to do our jobs. Thank you very much.
Ook 'n woord van hartlike dank aan die media, want sonder die media wat rapporteer wat in die Parlement gebeur - die televisie, radio en koerante wat skryf - sal die publiek nie noodwendig weet wat ons hier in die Parlement doen nie. Ook 'n woord van dank aan elkeen van hulle.
Dit is my wens om namens die VF Plus vir elke lid en vir elke kollega van elke party 'n voorspoedige 2008 toe te wens, maar ook 'n baie gesende Kersfees. Mag dit 'n Christusfees wees, mag u die vrede van Christus in u hart ervaar en mag ons 'n toekoms ingaan wat in die belang van al ons mense is. Baie dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Also a word of thanks to the media, because without the media reporting what happens in Parliament - television, radio and news papers - the public will not necessarily know what we are doing here in Parliament. A word of thanks to each and everyone of them.
On behalf of the FF Plus I would like to wish every member and each colleague from every party a prosperous 2008, as well as a blessed Christmas. May it be a festival in Christ, may you experience the peace of Christ in your hearts and may we enter a future that is in the interests of all our people. Thank you very much. [Applause.]]