Executive mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Clr Mondli Gungubele delivered the State of the City address last Wednesday, March 26.
The mayor opened his “Strengthening social maturity by advancing social cohesion in pursuit of a prosperous and, therefore, livable city”-themed speech with a dedication to all those who suffered for justice and freedom in South Africa’s years of struggle.
“After three centuries of institutionalised racism, our society is no longer defined by negative notions of diversity; on the contrary, we celebrate diversity, and find unity in it,” he said.
The mayor touched on a number of topics, including:
- Ekurhuleni is a better place today than it was in 1994.
- Highlights of 20 years of service.
- Improvements to roads throughout the metro, including lighting projects throughout the metro.
- Housing developments throughout the metro.
- Improvements to the Ekurhuleni Emergency and Disaster Service.
- Improvements in both the metro’s EMPD and SAPS services.
- The metro’s achievements since 2011.
- Initiatives to re-industrialise Ekurhuleni.
- Initiatives to re-urbanise and re-mobilise, to ensure a livable Ekurhuleni.
- Initiatives to re-generate Ekurhuleni.
- Initiatives to re-govern Ekurhuleni.
“These are humble steps to account for our efforts to reinforce, entrench and consolidate conditions of perpetual social maturation, since it is the only way our dream of a common destination as South African humanity can be realised,” Gungubele explained.
“This is the cause for which great men and women of our country, regardless of colour or creed, made sacrifices.
“This is the cause for which our generation cannot afford to fail.
“This year, 2014, is a historic and exciting year in more ways than one.
“The single most important reason of all is the fact that our democracy is coming of age.
“We will be going to the polls on May 7; it is our hope that especially the ‘born-free’ generation takes advantage of this hard won right, by showing up at the polls to vote.”
