Dankie, mnr die Speaker. Minister Manuel, ek het 'n interessante storie om vir jou te vertel. En ja, dis ook 'n goeie storie. Die lewe het 'n manier om interessante draaie te loop.
Toe ek nog 'n student was, met die oorgang van Suid-Afrika na die nuwe bedeling, toe ek nog aan die destydse Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit, vandag bekend as UJ, studeer het, het ek eendag geskok geluister na 'n gesprek in die media waar u ges het dat u eerder die All Blacks as die Springbokke ondersteun. Ek het by myself gedink, wie is hierdie ministertjie? Hy moet reggeruk word. Hoe kan iemand so onpatrioties wees?
Daarna het die tweede skok gekom. Ek het ervaar, alhoewel ek toe min van die ekonomie geweet het, hoe u uitsprake gemaak het oor die amorfe mark met die gevolglike val van die rand met elke uitspraak, aldus die ekonomiese kenners. Dit het my ook aangegryp en ek het gevra, wat gaan ons nou omtrent hierdie minister doen? Ek was in daardie tyd in 'n gebedsgroep en het een aand naef gevra dat ons vir minister Manuel moet bid, sodat hy die regte goed kan begin doen en s.
Tot my eie verbasing het die agb minister daarna begin bou aan sy profiel as die beste Minister van Finansies in Afrika. Sy denke en uitsprake het verbeter. Ek het op 'n stadium begin wonder of u nie dalk die beste Minister van Finansies in die wreld is nie. So, minister Manuel, as jy ooit in die moeilikheid is, probeer gebed. Lyk my, dit werk vir jou.
Minister, dis inderdaad vir my ook 'n voorreg om hierdie afskeidsboodskap vir u te lewer. Ek het nooit gedink ek sou die voorreg h om dit te doen nie.
Minister, dis inderdaad vir ons 'n groot verlies dat jy weggaan. Ons hier in die opposisie het eintlik stilweg gehoop, ons het dit nooit hardop ges nie, dat u presidensile ambisies het. Ongelukkig het die hoop daaroor beskaam.
Ons is baie dankbaar vir die werk wat jy vir Suid-Afrika en sy mense gedoen het en dat jy ons op 'n gesonder makroekonomiese pad geplaas het. Ons sal ook jou kwinkslae, jou grappe en jou skerp intellek baie mis. Deur u toekomsgerigdheid is die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan onder u beheer geskep. Ons wens u alles toe wat mooi is en mag God se gebede en sening jou steeds agtervolg. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: Thank you, Speaker. Mr Minister Manuel, I have an interesting story to tell you. And, yes, it is also a good story. Life has a way of taking interesting turns.
When I was still a student studying at the former Rand Afrikaans University, today known as the University of Johannesburg, I was shocked to listen to a speech in the media where you said that you would rather support the All Blacks than the Springboks. I thought to myself, who is this little Minister? He must be put in his place. How can someone be so unpatriotic?
Then the second shock followed. I experienced, even though I knew little about the economy at that stage, how you made statements about the amorphous market, with the rand consequently falling after every statement, according to the economic experts. This also affected me and I asked what we were going to do about this Minister. At the time I was part of a prayer group, and one evening I naively asked that we should pray for Minister Manuel in order for him to start doing and saying the right things.
To my surprise, the hon Minister then started to build his profile as the best Minister of Finance in Africa. His thoughts and statements improved. At one stage I started wondering whether you were not perhaps the best Minister of Finance in the world. So, Minister Manuel, if you are ever in trouble, make an effort to pray. It appears to be working for you.
Minister, it is indeed a privilege for me to deliver this farewell message to you. I never thought that I would have the honour to do so.
Minister, it is indeed a great loss to us that you are leaving. We here in the opposition actually secretly hoped - we never said this out loud - that you had presidential ambitions. Unfortunately our hope was in vain.
We are very grateful for the work that you have done for South Africa and its people, and for the fact that you have placed us on a healthier macroeconomic path. We will also miss your quips, your jokes and your sharp intellect very much. Through your being future-oriented, the National Development Plan was created whilst you were in charge. We wish you well, and may God's prayers and blessings continue to follow you.]