I think our hon Deputy Chairperson has outlined some of the innovative frameworks that the NCOP have agreed upon, in terms of consolidating this programme. We want to thank the two Deputy Ministers and our Ministers for telling this august House that some of the things that were raised by the people in Kuruman have already been addressed by their respective departments, and that those which have not been addressed yet are in the process of being attended to by the national department and provincial government. There is no wastage about this programme. Hon Worth, thanks for waking up to that particular reality.
In conclusion, I think it is important to make a statement that this august House must challenge all Premiers of our nine provincial governments to follow the hon Dipuo Peters in her appreciation of the joint effort of the NCOP and the legislatures in deepening dialogue with our people as elected representatives.
Premier Peters, without patronising you, you have accepted a simple reality, which does not need any sophistication obtained from university but does need common sense - that it's only in unity that we succeed.
That is the defining mark of how Africans work to build society, contrary to some who fear that when the NCOP comes and undertakes this type of task, it will be seen as an encroachment and interference. They believe that we don't have a right to do that.
One wonders where sections 68 and 69 of the Constitution are, which actually give this august House the power to summon anybody. The definition of "anybody" includes not only Ministers but also the Premier himself in a provincial legislature, the mayor of a municipal council and anybody who holds public office and a position within a private office.
We really want to challenge you, hon Premier Dipuo Peters, that as you interact with your colleagues in various forums, maybe in the Presidential Co-ordinating Council, it is very important to ensure that you begin to deepen consciousness about the kind of impact that this programme has.
This programme is unique. Some people are confusing it with an imbizo. I have attended many izimbizo but the NCOP's ``Taking Parliament to the People'' is unique. It is not an imbizo. It is different from an imbizo because within five days it addresses many issues that an imbizo cannot address, since it affords the masses of our people, sector-by-sector, theme- by-theme, an opportunity to tell us what their problems are.
The farmers are able to come and talk to their elected representatives about the problems that they are facing. That is something that will not happen in an imbizo. An imbizo is just an open ground and that is okay, of course. Only those who are dominant and vocal are the ones who are heard.
We can all agree that this kind of programme of the NCOP is one that has stood the test of time. We need to join the NCOP in providing more ideas in terms of how to improve whatever weaknesses there are in this particular programme. On that note, I want to thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.