Madame Deputy Speaker, Hon. Motlalepula Rosho; Hon. Premier of the North West Province, Mme Thandi Modis; Judge President Monica Leeuw; Honourable Members; fellow citizens of the North West Province, dear African-South Africans:
I would like to thank you all, especially leaders of the parties represented in the NWPL for having agreed to come to this special sitting, more so, during your time of recess.
This special sitting has been convened in terms of Rules 21 of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to come and give special attention to the matters that I am about to outline to this important House of law making.
Three years ago, in 2009, I was elected the Speaker of the NWPL. This period of the past three years during my service as the Speaker of the NWPL is better chronicled in the novel titled: “A Tale of Two Cities”, published in 1859, by an English Novelist; Charles Dickens (1812-1870); when he wisely writes: “ it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on it being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
Indeed, the period of 2009 until 2012, of my service as the Speaker was in the words of Dickens ‘an epoch of belief and it was also an epoch incredulity’, however, Honourable Members of the NWPL, across political affiliation, who served with us in this institution, including members of EXCO, were like team-mates, a person could rely on. Together and all of us, worked like a team. Together and all of us, managed to transform this institution from a building which was unfairly labelled “an exclusive infrastructure of the elected aristocrats” into a peoples parliament. We tried with the limited resources to close the gap between the governed and the governors.
Through public participation and sectoral parliament we tried to integrate the masses of our people, into the philosophy of “people`s-centred and people`s-driven democracy”.
Throughout, we were guided by the solemn declaration made by our people in Kliptown, back in 1955, when they unequivocally declared: “the people shall govern.” We have achieved these mammoth victories of consolidating and deepening our democracy through activities such as youth parliament, women`s parliament, workers parliament, parliament of people with disability and older persons parliament.
Similarly, on 17 February 2012, we created a paradigm shift, by taking the official opening of the NWPL to the North West University (Mafikeng campus). We hosted more than three thousand (3000) people on this day, compared to the usual six hundred (600) we normally host. It was for the first time in the seventeen years of our democracy that we hosted such a significant number.
During this period (ie.2009 until 2012), a period that Charles Dickens describe as ‘a season of Light and the season of Darkness’ we managed to pass the following legislations:
The North West Petition Act of 2010;
Political Party Funding Act of 2010;
And the North West Provincial Management Amendment Act of 2010.
During this important period of our history we managed to review the Standing Rules of the North West Provincial Legislature which regulate the proceedings and internal arrangements of this institution.
Over these three stormy years, the years that Dickens describes as ‘the winter of despair’, we created a financial evolution in the state of finances of the NWPL. In the Financial Year 2009-2010 the NWPL received a qualified report and together we made a declaration that the following year we will improve our administration and financial management. Indeed, in 2010-2011 we received an unqualified audit opinion. Consequently, we made a target to get a clean audit report in the subsequent financial years.
The period 2009-2012, an era which is perceived as ‘an epoch of incredulity’ by Dickens, we managed to secure the funds for the renovation of the NWPL and this renovation is budgeted for in the financial year 2012-2013.
The past three years, the years that Dickens perceive as: “the time when we had everything before us”, we were able to introduce the academic-empowerment module which enabled Honourable Members to be trained in the field of Public Administration, Strategic Leadership and Management. The course was offered by an institute called Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA).
In 2012 alone, we galvanised programmes on oversight as a way of deepening our constitutional democracy. We have identified the North West University for the purpose of training and capacity building for the current officials of the NWPL. The requisite skills in the areas of Economics, Finance, Political Science; Public Administration as well as Population studies will be our point of departure. The MOU between us and the university will be signed in due course.
Honourable members, we draw inspiration from the words of Hon. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, during the 2012 International Consultative Seminar, hosted by the South African Legislative Sector in Cape Town, when he says: “oversight over the executive by the legislature should not be an antagonistic one but a complimentary one because in the end all Members of the Legislature are elected including members of EXCO. The difference with Members of the EXCO, is that they are appointed by the Premier who is also elected by members of the Legislature”. As we dealt with the theory of oversight, Ntate Motlanthe, Hon. Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, proceeded and asked us these difficult questions:
“Are we in touch with the members of the communities whom we seek to serve?”
“Are we accessible as Public Representatives?”
However, in everything we did, we have always sought partnership with the people and always guided by the wisdom of the ANC-manifesto: “working together we can achieve more.”
As we prosecuted our mandate as Public Representatives during the period 2009-2012, during the era that Dickens allude as the time when: “we were all going direct to heaven”; all of us, always, believed in the rule of law; the constitution of the Republic of South Africa and our shared value system which teaches us about BOTHO or UBUNTU. That is: “MOTHO KE MOTHO KA BATHO.” This shared value system of our constitutional democracy obliges us to always respect human dignity in our daily interaction with society. If we successfully prosecute this struggle and vision, we would succeed in galvanising and consolidating the national and social cohesion as well as national unity that our country and the province so desires.
The ancient wisdom says: “We must not become complacent over any success. We should check complacency and constantly criticise our short comings, just as we should wash our face or sweep the floor every day to remove dirt and keep them clean”. Exactly, this is how we governed the NWPL in the past three years.
During this period of 2009-2012, a period which is described by Dickens as “the age of wisdom” in my service, as the Speaker of the NWPL I have been treated with the greatest kindness by all. For that I am grateful. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Max Sisulu and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Hon Mahlangu for having provided wisdom and leadership to the National Speakers Forum. My sincere gratitude to all the Speakers of the Provincial Legislatures and the support of staff for making this forum an institution of education and support for our constitutional democracy.
A special gratitude to all the Speakers of the Local and District Municipalities in the North West Province who were there with us when we formed the Provincial Speakers Forum, thank you very much.
During this period, the period which is described by Dickens as “the superlative degree of comparison only” we managed to harmonise the relations between the two important arms of the state, that is, the Executive and the Legislature as contemplated in the Trias Politica,’ that is, the theory of separation of powers, as founded by the French Philosopher, Charles Montesquieu. We wish to thank Members of EXCO and the Head of EXCO, Hon. Premier Thandi Modise for working in conjunction with the Legislature and implementing its recommendations, although not all due to challenges of budget and resources. For that we are grateful.
During these stormy years of our iron times, we walked closely and tirelessly with the Office of the Auditor General of South Africa, and we received much needed support, in particular Mr Schallar Van Schalkwyk. It was never easy, but, we tried as much as we can to follow your difficult recommendations. In the end, it was worth it and thanks very much for your kind support. Equally, we wish to extend the same level of gratitude to the Audit Committee of the NWPL, in particular, the Chairperson of the Committee and all the members. You helped us in the implementation of the recommendations of the Auditor General of South Africa. Without you we would not have received the past unqualified audit report. For that I am very thankful. A special thanks to Professor Kgwadi and the University of the North West. Let us continue with our social contract.
I take this opportunity to also thank all the committees of the NWPL who have helped us during my term as Speaker of the NWPL. Words cannot express how I feel, about the level of support I received from the Secretary of the NWPL, Mr Moss Ikgopoleng Kgantsi, the executive management and the general staff of the NWPL. Please continue with the good work. Work has been made less difficult during these past three (3) years by the support that I have received from the Staff in the Private Office of the Speaker – thank you very much. The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Motlalepule Rosho, you have a very pliable mind and you have been a remarkable asset to the NWPL, we thank you for your support. Most above, I thank the ANC for having bestowed me with the responsibility to lead the NWPL.
Our point of departure is to serve the people whole-heartedly, and never for a moment divorce ourselves from the masses of our people. Ostensibly, the positions that we hold as members of the ANC are not our positions but positions of the ANC. I state this irrevocable truth because the South African electoral system is based on party proportional representation and not the constituency based electoral system like in other countries, such the United States of America (USA), for an example. This means, when I occupy the position of the Speaker of NWPL as Nono Maloyi, it is not my position; it is the position of the ANC, because it is the ANC that has won these positions. So, when the ANC wants these positions back we should not manifest constitutional crisis for the ANC. In fact, we should make work of the ANC much easier. Equally, the ANC is not a federal organisation, it remains a unitary organisation.
For some time now we have observed the unwarranted attacks leveled against Premier Thandi Modise. Honourable members, Thandi Modise comes from the humble beginnings of the rural-country side of the North West Province. Let us support her and wish her well in her responsibilities. Those amongst us, who have lost their consciousness and in their quest or hidden agenda elect to attack the Premier and make her their prime target. Thandi Modise is one of us deployed by the ANC; therefore the attack against Thandi Modise is an attack against us. On the 26 August 1945, Mao Zedon wrote” if anyone attacks us and if the conditions are favourable for battle, we will certainly act in self-defence to wipe him out resolutely, thoroughly, wholly and completely (we do not strike rashly, but when we do strike, we must win) we must never be cowed by the blusters of reactionaries.” Conditions are now favourable for us to act in self-defence.
Honourable members I have served this oldest liberation movement (ANC) which has just turned 100 years with selflessness and dedication throughout my life! I have served this oldest liberation movement (ANC) without causing injury to its life and progress for the past 27 years! I have served this oldest liberation movement (ANC) without interruption! If at any point in the future, I can be found of service to the ANC, no matter how difficult, I shall execute the mission, without fail.
Trying times need courage and resilience! Our strength as a nation and as the people of the North West Province is not tested during the best of times. We should never turn gloomy because the weather is bad! We should never turn triumphalist because the sun shines! As Dickens reflects; it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
I wish to officially tender my resignation as the Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature. I do this as a loyal and disciplined cadre of the ANC.
I thank you
Abdication Speech by the Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature Hon Nono Maloyi, 03 April 2012.
Province
