(ENGLISH VERSION OF TRANSLATION INTO SESOTHO SA BORWA)

IN ENGLISH

Madame Speaker

At the end of this month, I will have been a Member of Parliament for 27 years uninterruptedly. I have, however, discovered to my own embarrassment that I have always spoken in either Afrikaans, of English. I never in 27 years tried to speak in one of our other indiginous languages. Today I want to put that right. I am going to try to speak in Sotho.

SOTHO

Madame Speaker and Colleagues

Today I want to try and speak Sesotho sa Borwa. You see, I grew up in the Free State where I learned some Sotho. Some people call me Mojapere. Others call me Mojatransporte. The Minister of Defence is a big Mpojapere. But he also speaks Afrikaans very well.

South Africa has eleven official languages. I think we should all try to learn more languages. That way we understand each other better.

Madame Speaker,

I agree with the previous speakers. On behalf of the IFP I also wish to thank all people who have helped to make a success of the year 2004.

On this occasion we should remember that although we sit in different parties, we are all only human beings. God has made us all. We are all only trying to do our best. Today is not the time to quarrel. It is the time to talk of good things.

Therefore, on behalf of the President of the IFP and all my IFP colleagues, I wish you all a safe journey home.

We wish you a good resting period. We wish you happiness with your family and friends.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous new Year.

We pray that God will hold His hand over us all until we meet again.

Go with peace.

I thank you.

sotho081104

SPEECH BY MR JH VAN DER MERWE MP

National Assembly 12 November 2004

IN SESOTHO SA BORWA

Madame Speaker

SOTHO

Mme Spikara le Ditho tsa Palamente

Kajeno ke batla ho leka ho bua Sesotho sa Borwa.

Wa bona, ke holetse mane Foreistata moo ke ithutileng Sesotho hanyenyane.

Batho ba bang ba mpitsa Mojapere.

Ha ba bang ba mpitsa Mojatransporoto.

Letona la Tshireletso ke Mojapere e moholo.

Empa o bua le puo ya Afrikanse hantle haholo.

Afrika Borwa e na le dipuo tse leshome le motso o le mong tsa semmuso.

Ke nahana hore bohle re tshwanetse ho leka ho ithuta dipuo tse ngata.

Ka tsela eo re tla utlwisisana hantle.

Mme Spikara,

Ke dumellana le bao ba buileng pele ho nna.

Lebitsong la IFP le nna ke rata ho leboha batho bohle ba thusitseng ho tlisa katleho selemong sa 2004.

Mothating ona re lokela ho hopola hore le ha re dutse mekgatlong e fapaneng, bohle re ntse re le batho feela.

Bohle re bopilwe ke Modimo.

Bohle re leka ho etsa dintho tse ntle feela.

Kajeno ha se letsatsi la ho ngagisana.

Ke nako ya ho bua ka dintho tse ntle.

Ka hoo, lebitsong la Mopresidente wa IFP le ditho tsohle tsa rona tsa IFP, ke le lakaIetsa leeto le bolokehileng ho ya hae.

Re le lakaletsa phomolo e monate.

Re le lakaletsa thabo le ba malapa le metswalle ya lona.

Re le lakaletsa Keresemese e Monate mmoho le Selemo se Setjha sa Katleho.

Re rapela hore Modimo a ke a otlolle Letsoho la Hae Hodima Rona ho fihlela re kopana hape.

Tsamayang ka kgotso.