Councillors allow me to appreciate honour and privilege to recognize amongst ourselves our ANC Sedibeng Regional Secretary CDE Bheki Ngobese, Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality Cllr Jacob Khawe and the Chief Whip of Sedibeng District Municipality Cllr Assistant Mshudulu, all members of the Whippery and all officials present today.

We meet in an occasion just after the passing of the late Mother of the Nation Cde Nomzamo Winfred Madikizela Mandela, Cde Dr Zola Skweyiya, Cde George Nene and this happens in the month were we commemorate the death of the late Solomon Mahlangu, Chris Hani and longest serving president Cde Oliver Reginald Tambo. Indeed April is a month whereby we commemorate and celebrate the lives of our heroes and heroines, it is also further important to note as we meet here today we are tasked to deliver effective and efficient service delivery to our people underpinned by both Batho Pele Principle and Ntirisano Back to Basics.

Greeting and Welcome to The Regional Secretary Cde Bheki Ngobese, The Emfuleni Local Municipality Executive and Chair of ANC in our region Cde Mahole Simon Mofokeng, The Chief Whip of the District Cllr Assistance Mshudulu, The former Emfuleni Local Municipality Chief Whip Cde Thulane Kunene, The Whips of Emfuleni Local Municipality, Support Staff in my office.

Our Caucus Lekgotla takes place shortly after the successful ANC Regional Lekgotla; the Lekgotla has paved a way forward on what is expected from Government and ANC and Alliance Constitutional structures.

Chief Whip of the ruling party and council, Speaker, Executive Mayor of the Metro, Whippery Members and Officials.

Receive my revolutionary greetings on behalf of Emfuleni Local Municipality ANC Caucus. This visit comes after the state President opened parliament on the 17th June 2014 wherein he outlined a clear program of action for the coming five years. Taking from the State of the Nation address it becomes clear that economy and local governance is prime in the cabinet program and that all of us need to tow the line in addressing service delivery in our respective municipalities.

The Programme Director, Sedibeng Executive Mayor Simon Mofokeng in absentia, Emfuleni Executive Mayor Greta Hlongwane, Members of the Mayoral, Committee from different Municipalities, Leadership of the Women Caucus, Guests including Learners, All Officials present here today, Ladies and Gentlemen

Dumelang, It gives me pleasure to be sharing this important platform with all of you here today. The 20 years journey we have traversed has been indeed exciting.

We are here today to celebrate the remarkable success that our twenty years of democracy has brought to all us.

The Speaker, Executive Mayor, Members of the Mayoral Committee, Honourable Councillor, Officials, Ladies and Gentlemen.

The Emfuleni Local Municipality Council and ANC branch in government (Chief Whip’s Office) joins South Africans and the world at large in celebrating the life and times of the attuned leader Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.