Agb Speaker, ek het gehardloop. Ek is baie jammer dat ek laat is, maar ek wil baie graag 'n woord of twee oor die agb Sue van der Merwe s. Sy was saam met ons hier sedert 1996. Ek hoor dat lede saam met haar getoer het. Ek het ook die voorreg gehad om saam met haar te toer. Ek het saam met haar op verskillende komitees gedien. Ek dink ons het baie goeie werk gedoen op die komitee oor kommunikasie, waar dit hoofsaaklik oor tegniese sake gegaan het en waar Sue al die jare 'n baie sinvolle bydrae gemaak het om Suid-Afrika 'n beter plek te maak.
Ek word oud, ek word oud. Sue, jy moenie so oud word nie. Daarna, as Adjunkminister, het ek die voorreg gehad om saam met haar te werk en verskeie sake met haar te bespreek waar sy regtig sinvol gehelp het, 'n bydrae gemaak het, en waar ons saam dinge kon aanwend.
Ek het ook die voorreg gehad om vir Tiaan te ken. Ek was altyd ook hoogs bendruk met Tiaan se bydrae in die verlede.
Ek wens haar baie sterkte toe vir die toekoms. Sterkte daar buite. Tans is ons almal hier in 'n verkiesinggees. Ons is in die "lystegees". Ek is nie seker of jy dalk beter af is as ons nie.
Die VF Plus het eerskomende naweek sy Mangaung-konferensie. Ons kies nuwe leiers. Dalk is ek nie hier daarna nie en dan sluit ek dalk daar by jou aan. Baie sterkte vir die toekoms. Baie dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Hon Speaker, I was running. I am very sorry that I am late, but I would like to say a few words about the hon Sue van der Merwe. She has been here with us since 1996. I have heard that some members have been touring with her. I also had the privilege of touring with her. I served with her on different committees. I believe we delivered very good work on the committee on communications, which was predominantly about technical issues, and where Sue made a very meaningful contribution all these years in order to make South Africa a better place.
I am growing old, I am growing old. Sue, you must not age like this. Thereafter, as Deputy Minister, I had the privilege of working with her and discussing various issues with her where she really helped significantly, made a contribution, and where we would co-operate on certain matters.
I also had the privilege of knowing Tiaan. I was always highly impressed with Tiaan's contribution in the past. I wish her well for the future. Good luck out there. All of us here are currently in election mode. We are in the "lists mode". I am not sure whether you are perhaps better off than us.
The FF Plus will have its Mangaung conference this coming weekend. We are electing new leaders. Perhaps I won't be here after that and then I might join you. Good luck for the future. Thank you very much. [Applause.]]