Fillable Printable Farewell Speech On The Ocassion Of End Of First Session

Farewell Speech On The Ocassion Of End Of First Session

FAREWELL SPEECH ON THE OCCASSION OF END

OF FIRST SESSION OF THE 4

PARLIAMENT, ON THE

NOVEMBER 2009

Deputy Speaker

Honourable Members

As the year draws to a close, it is time for us to review

progress made thus far and bid farewell to members as

we come to the end of this year’s session. This has been

a busy year for all of us, particularly for new members who

have had much to learn and adapt to. They have certainly

had to hit the road running.

The new government has effected several changes to the

structure of ministries and government departments, and

therefore we have had to align some of the Committees

accordingly. This has been no small task, so we

acknowledge, with thanks, the work of the National

Assembly table and the Committee Section in this regard.

I would like to touch on a few highlights from this session

of the 4

Parliament and to report on progress made on

certain issues. Members would have noticed that the

Policy Imperatives document setting out the strategic

framework, including the vision and strategic objectives

has been tabled.

The strategic framework was developed and based on the

provisions set out in the Constitution, and the numerous

planning sessions that were conducted in both the

National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

These planning sessions included active participation and

direction by Presiding Officers, Office Bearers, Political

Parties and Members.

The strategic framework highlights the Vision of the 4

Parliament as:

To build an effective people’s Parliament that is

responsive to the needs of the people and that is

driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life

for all the people of South Africa.

Under the stewardship of the Deputy Secretary, Mr

Coetzee, and the House Chairperson, Mr Bapela, the

implementation of the Oversight and Accountability Model

adopted by the National Assembly earlier this year is

progressing well.

The Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related

Matters Act (2009) will extend the scope of our oversight

framework. However its implementation is a complex and

intricate matter which will involve a range of institutional

reforms. A political task team has been established, led

by the House Chairpersons and the committees, on

finance and appropriations.

Not without controversy, Parliament has also facilitated

appointments to the South African Human Rights

Commission, the Board of the South African Broadcasting

Corporation and oversaw the appointment a new Public

Protector. We wish them all success in their endeavours

within the respective institutions. Our thanks must go to

Ministers, Chairs of Committees and members who

participated in ensuring that this and other business have

been dealt with.

We have successfully concluded some important business

of Parliament for example, the State of the Nation address

for 2009 and the Medium Term Budget. We have also had

three Joint Sittings of the National Assembly and the

National Council of Provinces. The first was to celebrate

Mandela Day; yesterday, we welcomed the new Chief

Justice Ngcobo and bid farewell to retired Chief Justice

Langa, and on Tuesday, we discussed preparations for the

FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup. This is testimony to the fact

that Parliament is a national forum for public consideration

of issues of importance to our people.

On a lighter note during the answers to the President’s

State of the Nation address, FIFA presented the

Confederations Cup trophy to President Zuma. This was

a highly symbolic gesture designed to illustrate the

connections between the people’s game, which is football

and the people’s Parliament!

I have also received a letter from the Chief Whip of the

Majority Party regarding the establishment of a multi-party

forum on issues related to nation building. The Chief Whip

makes useful proposals on how he sees the Parliamentary

Millennium Programme as being a vehicle for the renewed

call for nation building, social cohesion, Africa

advancement and International cooperation. He envisages

a multi-party forum as leading this programme in building

bridges of understanding amongst South Africans and

thus taking forward the concept of an activist Parliament.

These proposals will receive attention next year when we

implement the strategic plan for this Parliament.

Parliament has hosted a number of incoming delegations

from strategic partners in the international community,

including, among others, high-level delegations from the

People’s Republic of China, and the Speaker of Nigeria.

These and other delegations have interacted with

Parliamentarians as a component of the expanding role

which the national Parliament is playing in pursuit of our

strategic objectives in bilateral and multilateral forums. At

a domestic level we have hosted a delegation from the

Royal Bafokeng Nation led by Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi. This

visit was a first of its’ kind and they have expressed

appreciation for the opportunity to interact with national

Parliament.

Honourable Members, the World Cup will focus

considerable international attention on South Africa next

year. The programme of Parliament for 2010 had to take

into account the World Cup tournament and this means

that our work in the first and second terms has to be

programmed to ensure that Parliament adjourns in time for

members to be part of this important event. We anticipate

a huge influx of visitors as well as many international

television crews whose platforms will beam images of our

country to television screens across the world. I suspect

that here in Parliament, we will also have our hands full! I

encourage you to rest well over the holiday period in

anticipation of a full programme in the next session.

The excitement of the Fifa 2010 World Cup cannot distract

from the very important business we will still have to

attend to. Parliament’s role in scrutinising the reports of

our parastatals will continue in earnest next session. The

reports have been tabled and we will need to look critically

and carefully at the many challenges being faced by these

entities. They are crucial partners with government in

ensuring service delivery and Parliament has a role in

appraising the performance of these entities. We seek to

play an active oversight role, through criticism and

support.

In the next session we will continue to give in-depth

consideration to the Legacy issues from the 3

Parliament. The Report of the Independent Panel

Assessment of Parliament is presently referred to the Joint

Rules Committee and the Parliamentary Oversight

Authority who are to provide guidance on how the

recommendations therein can be taken forward. As

recommended in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on

the Review of Chapter Nine and Associated Institutions,

the 3

Parliament adopted a resolution that required the

Speaker to establish a unit to support the National

Assembly in coordinating its work with institutions

supporting democracy. The Office of the Speaker is in the

process of establishing the Unit, which we envisage will be

up and running by April 2010 as a budget request has

been made and approved for 2010/2011. The Space-

Utilisation Project addresses the acute shortage of office

space for Parliamentarians. The Presiding Officers of

Parliament have agreed to prioritise the need for an office

block for members.

On the issue of unanswered questions, I have raised this

matter with the Leader of Government Business, the

Deputy President, and he in turn, has raised the matter in

Cabinet.

Honourable members, we note with sadness the passing

away of two members of this House, Ms K N Shoba on the

9th May 2009 at the inauguration of the President; and Mr

F T Masango on the 18th September 2009. Let us also

recognise former members of Parliament who also passed

away in this year:

Prof D C du Toit on 1 June 2009

Mr M J “Mokgomana” Phala on 30 July 2009

Mr J P “Past Four” Phungula on 9 August 2009

Mr M “Ginyizembe” Mpehle on 4 October 2009

Mr P O Moloto on 8 October 2009

Imam Gassan Solomon on 28 October 2009

We remember these individuals and their contributions

with affection and a profound sense of loss.

Finally, I wish to thank the Deputy Speaker, Ms Mfeketo,

for her support and dedication and House Chairpersons

Mr Obed Bapela, Mr Ben Skosana and Ms Mildred

Oliphant for their contributions to the work of the office of

the Speaker. My thanks go also to the Secretary to

Parliament, Mr Zingile Dingani, and the Deputy Secretary,

Mr Mike Coetzee, who lead this administration of hard-

working and dedicated officials. Our best wishes to all of

them during the festive season.

Although this is the last plenary of the National Assembly,

committee work continues next week. Members will then

have the opportunity to reconnect with their constituencies

before breaking for annual leave on the 11

December.

Honourable Members, drive safely and take the time to

relax and enjoy your families and friends.

I hope that you return refreshed and ready to continue the

sterling oversight work started this session.

Go well and be safe!