Mr Speaker, the leader of the IFP, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has had to leave the House owing to pressing business back home and he requested me to convey this message on his behalf. On behalf of the IFP, I wish to add my party's felicitations to the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr J G Zuma. We wish the President strength and wisdom, which can only come from our Almighty Father.
We have gone through many trials together, particularly in the part of South Africa from which we both hail. After our discussions earlier this year and also yesterday, as well as my chat with the deputy president of the ANC, His Excellency Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, I do hope that we can complete the unfinished task of reconciliation between our two organisations in the interests of our people in South Africa. [Applause.]
With the President's track record of peace-making in Africa, we hope that the time may have come to end once and for all the depression of national spirit that has afflicted our country for too long. Nothing makes me as sad as to see the depth of the chasm that still divides us even in the very twilight of my years.
As we have assembled here to elect our head of state and head of our government, there are cases in courts where there are members of both our parties involved, and there is finger-pointing to the effect that members of both of our parties are still killing each other.
The President has, like me, lived amongst the poor all his life and we both recognise that the biggest challenge we face is the banishment of the poverty of our people in rural areas, in the squatter areas, in urban townships and amongst all South Africans of all races. Our greatest primary task is the effort to put people to work.
I realise that this task cannot be accomplished without sacrifices and changes in our mind-set because of the conflict of the past. We hope that this is the time for the country to unite around a common purpose if this nation is to fulfil its destiny. This will demand courage, sacrifices and devotion from all of us collectively. On behalf of the IFP, we wish you Msholozi, Nxamalala, every blessing as you fulfil your destiny to lead our country at this time. I thank you. [Applause.]