Speech by the City’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille, at the
parliamentary welcome reception on 18 June 2014
Chairperson of the NCOP, Ho. Thandi Modise,
National ministers,
National deputy ministers,
MECs,
Members of Parliament,
Fellow mayors,
Councillors,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening, goeieaand, molweni, as-salaam alaikum, shalom,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the Civic Centre this evening.
As I look around me, I see many familiar faces; people I have known and
served with during my 16 proud years as a parliamentarian.
I know from experience that the work of an MP can be demanding.
You have to master the work of your portfolio; you have to keep up to speed
with and shape current policy and legislative debates; and, what I found
most difficult- you have to do so all within the confines of the rules.
As with all things in life, the role you have been allocated will be defined by
your approach and dedication to it.
Every MP has the duty to uphold the constitution and the responsibility to give
meaning to the values of our Bill of Rights to ensure that they become living
realities for all South Africans.
I would like to congratulate the ANC on their electoral victory; the DA for
growing the opposition; and the newcomers to parliament, such as the EFF
and Agang.
I hope that all parties ensure that the spirit of parliamentary democracy is
kept alive in the fifth parliament.
And I would like to make a special appeal to all those MPs who have
constituencies in the Cape Town-metro region to remember that I have an
open-door policy and wherever you have issues that need the City’s
attention, please let me know.
In conclusion, I wish you all the very best for the years ahead.
May you all approach the matters of the house ethically, transparently and
with humility in deference to the people we all serve.
I hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive five years.
Thank you, baie dankie, enkosi.