State of the City’s Address / Approval of Budget, Budget Related Policies, Tariffs & IDP for the Financial Year 2025/2026 AND MTREF 2025/2026 – 2027/2028
It is in times like these when the quest for a national dialogue in search of a suitable pathway to a better future gains momentum, that the whole country yearns for the resurgence of Mangaung not only as the provincial capital, nor the economic hub – but in the main, as the only metro in our province. For this noble purpose of national dialogue, we declare our ancient doors open to hosting the rainbow nation! This great city is not the sole metropole of the province by default. We became a beacon of hope for liberation during state repression, and equally, a model of good governance in the democratic era.
Thus, over the years, our greatest glory has always been how we managed to unite the people in advancing the cause of a better life for all. And this is a generational legacy upon which a better future for the people of Mangaung must be built. Consumed by this legacy, two years ago, since 30 March 2023, when I accepted the scepter of the first citizenship, I thought it would be easy since it was a ‘local’ deployment, expecting to enjoy much time with my family after work.
Little did I know that the incumbency would run me ragged. If it was not because of the enthusiasm of all members of this Council across political spectrum, the administration, and the unwavering support of the people of Mangaung, the task at hand would have been insurmountable. For this, I would like to express my gratitude to my party the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), African Apostolic Church of the New Testament (AAS), Pan African Congress (PAC), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the ATM, and the Independent Civic Alliance (AIC). When we took over the reign of the city, we extended an open invitation to all stakeholders to come and join hands with us as reclaim our city back to its former glory. And all the political parties represented in this council led by example in this regard. We were also fortunate as the governance of the city, we became an all of hands-on-deck affair because the entire Free State Provincial Government under the tutelage of Honorable Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, the National Treasury, CoGTA and many other intergovernmental partners did not rest nor held their peace for the soul of Mangaung. And we are deeply indebted for this!
On this note, we take this opportunity to applaud our State President Cyril Ramaphosa – a statesman par excellence, for handling our diplomatic relations with great wisdom and dignity. Taking into cognizance a devastating impact of the withdrawal of the US HIV/AIDS program in South Africa, His excellency went to USA to save an African child. In this context, as we join the international community to congratulate the Catholics for the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who is the 267th and the first American by descent. We hope the current political leadership of the US will take few lessons from Pope, who acts as a beacon of hope for global peace and unity.
On that particular day of electing Pope, 8 May 2025, when the roar erupted following white smoke bellowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, the writing became quite evident on the wall that America has added the highest religious authority to its apparent global hegemonic status. Perhaps this particular pre-eminence of America has attracted the forty-nine (49) Afrikaners who left our country for the United States. They have willingly fled the country and mother continent of Africa on prearranged voyage instead of purported refugee criterion. what the father of our democracy and freedom; the Former State President Dr Nelson Mandela when he said:
“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.”
As the judicial capital, united in its diversity – black and white we wish to recite the Freedom Charter and declare: South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. Ons gaan nêrens want ons woord hierso! Ha hona moo re yang!
Together, as we march on towards a non-racial society, we can do more in reversing the atrocities of colonialism and apartheid towards a just cause of a better life for all. We also wish to join the rainbow nation in celebrating the under 20 National football side, Amajita, for winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. This is just the beginning; the world is yet to see our best.