Hon Speaker, I don't know whether the hon member has been following developments on this matter. In early 2008, economies were saying that this was not going to affect the world that much and that it was going to be contained within the United States. There have been different views of the economies, as you said - it deepened. Other than South Africa, I don't think there could have been any other country where economies would have said anything to anybody and started responding then. What would we be responding to when economies and those who are able to focus on this matter were not able to say how much damage this crisis would cause?
Then, at the end of 2008-09, everybody began to accept that this is a problem that is deepening. I think it was during the time when the hon Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe was the President of this country that the country then responded. I cannot say it was too late; I cannot say we could be accused of having responded too late. This crisis emanated from the developed world. Therefore, even their own response to it would not be like that of the developing countries.
We have responded timeously in as far as we are concerned, very clearly and decisively. That is why I have been saying in the response that even other countries have learnt from what South Africa is doing and are appreciating what South Africa has done. I don't think the question that suggests that we took a long time before responding is actually justified. I think you should be joining your country in saying, "well done"! [Applause.]