Programme director
Our host, the Speaker of Mkhondo Municipality
Members of the Mayoral Committee
Councilors
Leaders of different political parties
Members of the Mkhondo Municipal Council
The business community present here
The faith-based organisations
The SAPS representatives
Government officials
Members of the media
Distinguished guests and all dignitaries present
Comrades and compatriots
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour for me to be invited to this distinctive event to deliver a keynote address on the inauguration of my comrade Mr Bheki Mtshali.
Let me start by congratulating Mr Mtshali on his election as the Mayor of Mkhondo Municipality. I am excited because Mtshali was previously a Public Safety Councillor, which means he understands the challenges of safety and security.
As a mayor, he now has bigger responsibilities of also ensuring that the people of Mkhondo leave peacefully.
Before I continue with my remarks, I want to borrow from our former President Dr Nelson Mandela who said; "Courage is not an absence of fear, it is nothing but inspiring others to go beyond," I am quoting Dr Mandela because besides being one of the greatest leaders of our times, he has provided great guidance in our country.
Ladies and gentlemen, as a regional chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Gert Sibande Region, I can confirm that this year’s local government elections were indeed challenging for our organisation.
It took courage to inspire others to go and exercise their democratic constitutional right to vote.
It is in this regard ladies and gentlemen that I am borrowing from our former President because; the ANC did not simply win this municipality out of nothing, it took courage to inspire others.
We had to go all out in ensuring that we convince the people to vote the ANC into power. There were comrades and other citizens who had threatened that they were not going to vote at all.
It took the ANC leadership to strategise on how to win the souls of our discouraged and depressed comrades and the rest of the citizens.
It was indeed not an easy victory for us considering that this Municipality was for a long time characterised by what many people called the public service protests.
The ruling party in this municipality worked very hard to influence the people to understand that it was their democratic right to vote and that they needed to vote for the ANC.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to celebrate that hard work, by honouring the people’s wishes that the ANC should continue to rule this municipality.
The people voted for us regardless of the challenges the previous council had. They showed trust to the ANC that it will change their lives for the better.
I want to congratulate the citizens of Mkhondo for voting for the right political party to be the one that changes their lives for the better. They chose the ANC to be their party of choice in delivering the services on their behalf.
We must acknowledge that as a country, as a province and as a municipality, we are still faced with numerous challenges in bringing the much-wanted basic services.
Seventeen years into democracy, the demand for the houses is still an issue. There is still an outcry for safety in our streets.
Comrade Mtshali comes at a time when we have to bring hope to the people of Mkhondo. We should not only bring hope, but we have to deliver the services.
I want to continue to quote Dr Mandela who said; “Lead from the front, but do not leave your base behind”
The public protests which affected our country were mainly caused by the fact that we lead by the front, and we usually forget our base. We usually forget the people who voted this administration into power.
As a government, we keep on going to the people and ask them what they want, we however do not go back to give them feedback on our challenges. This leads to frustration and it leads to people resorting to protests.
These protests are somehow characterised by criminal elements. That is where I come in by sending the police to stabilise the situation.
People subsequently complain that the police are brutal and they do not allow them to exercise their right of protesting. I have always said that Mpumalanga is not a Banana Republic! It has the rules and the laws which protect the Constitution and the citizens of our country.
Ladies and gentlemen, the police will always do everything in their power to stabilise the unwanted situation in our province.
I am addressing this occasion when Traffic Management from Public Works, Roads and Transport has been transferred to my department. I am excited with this move by our Honourable Premier David Mabuza to implement the 2007 Polokwane Resolution of the ANC to have all law enforcement agencies under one department.
These are the good news because together with traffic management we will work together in fighting crime and road carnages in our province.
Talking of road carnages, I want to commend this municipality for helping its citizens two weeks ago when a terrible car accident claimed 11 lives. Nine of the people who died were from here at Thandukukhanya.
I have told my officials to do something too about this road. It should be changed from being a notorious killer road but should become a holy road.
The Municipality did well by declaring that accident a disaster and in partnership with my department, they assisted the bereaved families.
This is what we meant when we wanted the people to vote for the ANC that we will care for them. This was just one of the things this government would do in changing the people’s lives for the better.
In conclusion, again I want quote Dr Mandela who said; “Lead from the back, and let others believe they are in front”.
Let us learn from the previous mistakes, let us prioritise our people. Let them come first in anything we do for them.
Once again congratulations to the new Mayor, Councillor Mtshali on his election. We hope that he will contribute towards the better life for our people.
I thank you.
Source: Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison
