Speaker, the Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs would like to bid farewell to the hon Lechesa Tsenoli, as he will be taking on his new deployment as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.
The committee wishes to thank the Deputy Minister for the good leadership and guidance he provided whilst presiding over the committee with humility and dignity. You have made a huge contribution in doing oversight in the department and its entities, as well as provinces and municipalities.
The committee will miss you as a chairperson who was health conscious. The coaching you provided and fitness exercises, the courses you organised for us to understand our inner abilities and strengths as human beings and the effort you put into the committee will always be greatly appreciated. You always encouraged each and every member of the committee across party lines to read and be prepared before a meeting so as to enable us to make meaningful contributions. We will miss your intelligence, and the intellectual and psychological skills you possess. You had an ability to reach each and every member's character. You were able to understand when one was happy, hungry or tired, and you always provided a shoulder to cry on when one was grieving.
Deputy Minister, we wish you to continue with your honesty, selflessness, love and care. You were always laughing when you were supposed to be angry. Hell, Deputy Minister, we are already missing you. [Laughter.] We wish you all the best in your new deployment. The committee supports the changes that have been announced by the President. Thank you, Minister Nathi Mthethwa, and welcome Minister Richard Baloyi into the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs family. [Laughter.] [Time expired.]