Chair, on behalf of the ANC I stand here to congratulate you. I also want to congratulate those women who have been elected premiers in our country. However, I want to remind the premier of my province that this is not an island. We don't have an island in our country ... [Applause.] ... and if we don't respond to what she said, people will assume that she is representing the people of the Western Cape. I must say, she has won the election, but she has not won the minds and hearts of our people. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
I want to say, Chair, and of course, hon Chief Justice, that I am not a racist. If she wants to lead her race she has the right to do so. She has won the race to lead, but not the people of my province. This is my home, and she has to be very serious when she leads the people of this province.
Hon Chairperson, I want to say to those who don't know the Chair - we here in the ANC and in the NCOP call him M J; that is people who know him very well - that having worked with him for more that 10 years now, I know how good a leader he is. After the elections of 1994, the ANC deployed him in the National Assembly. There he was Chairperson of Committees. To prove that he can lead, he was then deployed to the NCOP in 2002. In 2005, after the death of our leader, Joyce Kgoali, he was then deployed to be Chairperson of the NCOP.
He has represented South Africa at many international conferences and seminars in Germany, Sweden, the US and Kenya. And, of course, he was also privileged in 2007 to be elected Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: Africa Region. He has served the ANC in different capacities. For example, he served on one of the most important committees of the ANC - the legislature and government subcommittee of the national executive committees.
Chairperson, you know our House is constituted to ensure that provinces are given an effective voice in the national legislative process. It also has a specific function with regard to lawmaking and is required to bring a different set of sensibilities to perspectives on lawmaking. In particular, it must give a voice to the perspectives of the country's nine provinces, and provide a platform for local government to participate in the legislative deliberations.
Our House has now reached new heights in mobilising the people to take part in discussions that affect their lives, and holds government departments accountable for the delivery of quality services to our communities. In general, there has been an increase and a positive response to the NCOP's programmes and public deliberations by the people of South Africa. I think we all agree that this has happened under the keen and watchful eye of you, M J, at the helm of the NCOP.
On behalf of the ANC, Chair, it is my honour and privilege to congratulate you again on your election as Chairperson. This says, in other words, that the ANC has confidence in you. I also want to say, Chair, you know that all members in the House always support you. I must say that, for once, I agree with the hon Watson - he does respect you. I agree with him here but that's the only thing we agree on.
Lastly, I want to say ...
... siyababulela bonke abantu base Mzantsi abaye bathi ngomhla wama-22 ku- Apreli bavota. Ingakumbi abo baye bathi: Thina siyakuhlala sinje, sohlala siyi-ANC. Ngabantu ke abo ababaziyo ubomi; abo baye bathi: Phatha Zuma phatha! NgoMgqibelo siyambeka. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... we thank all the people of South Africa who voted on 22 April. Especially those who said, "We will forever remain members of the ANC." Those are the people who have experience in life, those who gave Zuma their mandate to govern. We will inaugurate him on Saturday.]
Thank you very much. [Applause.]