Honourable Chief Justice Langa, hon President and Deputy President, hon members of the executive, hon members of the National Assembly, esteemed members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished guests and members of the public, it is with great humility and a deep sense of honour that I take the Chair as Speaker of the National Assembly.
As Speaker, I want to express my sincerest appreciation to hon members for the confidence that they have placed in me, and for the great responsibility that has been entrusted to me. I assure hon members that your trust is not misplaced and that I vow to execute my duties as Speaker in a manner that befits your trust and the requirements of our Constitution. [Applause.]
No Speaker can accept this important position without acknowledging the efforts and contributions of his or her predecessors. In this respect, I want to pay a special tribute to the first Speaker of the democratic Parliament, Dr Frene Ginwala. [Applause.] Dr Ginwala, the first Madam Speaker of our democratic dispensation, worked tirelessly to lay the foundations of a new and vibrant people's Parliament during the first ten years of our democracy. She created and enhanced procedures and systems so that Parliament could claim its rightful place in our constitutional order. The initial work guided by Dr Ginwala will resonate in this House and has left us with a lasting legacy on which to build.
I wish also to take this opportunity to pay tribute to two other former Speakers, hon Baleka Mbete and hon Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, who have returned as members of the National Assembly. Their sterling work over the past five years in entrenching democracy and uplifting the status of Parliament will not be forgotten. The people of South Africa owe them a great debt of gratitude. [Applause.]
Furthermore, their dedication to enhancing the third Parliament as a participatory Parliament and improving its oversight mechanisms are a lasting legacy that will shape much of the life of this, the fourth democratic Parliament. For that, we thank them and pay tribute to their foresight and perseverance. Thank you. [Applause.]
On 22 April 2009, the people of South Africa spoke, and we now know what they said. They gave us, their elected representatives, an unequivocal mandate. We may be tired after the election campaign, but we are compelled to put aside our weariness and immediately tackle the challenges that await us, head on. It is time to put our shoulders to the wheel, to demonstrate that we are worthy of the trust placed in us by the electorate.
I have been informed that about half of the members sworn in today did not serve in the Third Parliament. That is a high percentage, and for many of you, it will be a fast-tracked learning process and an adjustment to a new way of doing things. However, I want to assure new members that the former members, as well as returning members, have created an enabling environment in this House that will undoubtedly assist you in adjusting to your new surroundings and working environment.
Hon members will know that all three previous Speakers of the democratic Parliament were women. The term "Madam Speaker" rolled very easily off the tongue for many years. But now, all members, both new and returning, will have to make another big adjustment, as gender sensitivity has been officially recognised by the Chair. [Laughter.] [Applause.] I am sure that, under the glare of the television cameras and the gaze of the public, I will be called "Madam Speaker" at least a few times! [Laughter.] That is to be expected, and will be forgiven, at least once! [Laughter.] I would, however, urge all hon members to resist the great temptation to call the Speaker "Madam Speaker". The title "Speaker" will suffice.
Finally, I want to welcome returning members to the House. Very importantly, I wish to express a warm welcome to the new members of this honourable House. I thank you. [Applause.]