Thank you, hon Speaker. Let me also congratulate you for being the Speaker of the House, as you were elected today. The hon President is not totally new to a post in the Presidency. He served as a Deputy President for a term and some years. The challenges of South Africa did not face him directly, since he was serving under the President of the time. The UCDP says to him to brace himself for the tough task of dealing directly with the issues of the country, in leading his party and other political parties of South Africa.
A week after the elections, we have already seen people picketing because they are unhappy about service delivery. The GDP of the country has dropped, leading to predictions of a high unemployment rate, to mention but a few of the challenges awaiting him.
The campaign and also the results of the 22 April 2009 election showed that South Africans have trust in the hon President as the leader of the country. They therefore expect better service delivery, the creation of jobs, less crime, a healthy environment as well as economic growth.
There is a saying: "Motho ke motho ka batho ba bangwe." [A person is a person because of other people.] The respect that he will give to other people and other political parties will be given back to him. The UCDP will respect, honour and give support to the President. He must, however, always guard against the yeast of the Pharisees that will lead him astray. It does not matter how many times you get knocked down; what matters is how many times you get up. So get up, hon President, for the people of South Africa. Congratulations! [Applause.]