Could you please give me my other time at the end. Thank you very much. And we can make up for the time that you were late. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, for now, I would like to confirm that for our personnel, the occupation-specific dispensation has been approved, has been budgeted for and should begin to have effect by the end of this month. [Applause.] I would like to thank all affected members for their patience over the delay in its implementation.
Finally, here is a good note to end my input. We have had a number of important successes, but we have done very little to boast about these. On 8 August 2009 we will be lowering the South African flag in Burundi, marking the end of our most successful deployment in Africa. [Applause.] Our mandate in Burundi expired in June 2009 after 10 years of peacekeeping in that country.
The SANDF helped end 15 years of civil strife in Burundi and today we are proud that peace has held together. [Applause.] We would like to take this opportunity again to thank the SA National Defence Force and the President, Mr Jacob Zuma, in particular, who played a pivotal role in negotiating peace for Burundi. We would also like to thank the former Minister of Defence, Mr Charles Nqakula, for the role he played in the continuation of these negotiations. [Applause.]
As we speak, all parties in that country have started campaigning for elections in a peaceful atmosphere, all because of our contribution. Nothing can be more fulfilling for the human spirit than the knowledge that we have saved lives and held a democracy together. I thank you. [Applause.]