2010 - We have walked a log mile towards the completion of 2010. We danced and ululated to the melody of the vuvuzelas. We were united in our diversity through the 2010 soccer spectacular.

It was a journey where we lost the loves, yet it was a journey full of hope. We toiled for the betterment of society, to rid our country of crime, HIV and AIDS, poverty and abuse of women and children.

It was no an easy walk, yet our resilience delivered us to a point of hope where the African sun blessed us with warmth and rains that water the dry soil where we harvested plenty in order to feed a nation.

The sweet melody of our birds, the beauty of our flora and our admiration of our fauna imbued us with a determination to continue with our journey to create a beautiful country based on the values of Ubuntu and togetherness.

As a caring government our people's mandate to create a better future for our children through accelerated service delivery remains at the apex of our reconstruction and development agenda.

This entailed provision of basic services, clean water, electricity, tarred roads, refuse and sanitation.

With the world adversely affected by tough economic conditions which accounted for job losses, soaring oil and food prices and unemployment we wish to salute those who paid for their services in order to enable us to continue with legislative responsibility to deliver on our own mandate.

It was indeed a tough year but we continued to ensure that our people a primary beneficiaries of the democracy which they fought for.

The year 2010 marks ten years of local government. The year 2011 marks the 15th anniversary of our constitution.

Amidst these hardships, we should pride ourselves with the strides that thus far made to change the face of our communities.

The year 2011 heralds a beginning of new chapter of local democratic governance. Participatory democracy ensures your direct involvement in determining our development trajectory for a better South Africa.

Let us enter 2011 with a collective resolve' to rid society of the scourge of HIV and AIDS, starvation and abuse of women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

Wishing you and you families a merry Christmas and a meritorious new season.

Written by Cllr Sithole Assistance Mshudulu
Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality