Deputy Speaker, this is what the people of South Africa need and, indeed, what many in his own party want. The greatest test of leadership is to know when to give up and pass the torch to a new generation. There are deep divisions in South Africa and in the ANC today, and the President cannot overcome them. [Interjections.]
The challenges of government and of getting South Africa's young people working require the President to devote every hour of every day for the remainder of his term to dealing with these challenges. By declaring himself unavailable for re-election, the President will not face the relentless pressure of trying to secure his position in what is set to be a brutal and protracted struggle for power. He would be free to govern as head of state and not be constrained by his party's alliance partners, who have done so much to frustrate him. If the President made this commitment, he would have an opportunity to put back the undoubted talents of his warmheartedness, compassion, and conflict resolution into the service of our great nation.
The next two years do not have to be as bad as the last three. The President could still, at this very late hour, have a role to play in binding the nation's wounds and healing our past in the remainder of this term. South Africa can still prevail and prosper, and its bounds grow ever wider, for ours is a great country. I thank you. [Time expired.]