MAYORAL IMBIZO LAUNCH SPEECH

(Greetings and acknowledgments)

Firstly, I want to thank the masses of our people assembled in this stadium for taking the time to be part of this historic process in the life and development of Buffalo City.

Okokuqala ndifuna ukubulela le nginginya ibuthelene apha kula mabala namhlanje, ngokuthi niziphe ithuba lokuba sibe kunye kule ndibano eyimbali kumalinge ethu okuphuhlisa ikhaya lethu eliyi--Buffalo City.

While some would have us forget history, it is right to remind ourselves as we engage one another on the challenges of local development that not much more than ten years ago, our people laboured under a divisive and non-participatory form of government at every level, where the resources of the state were hijacked in a perverse and racially exclusive manner, and where a legacy of deprivation was created that we are still struggling to redress.

Kakade bekulindeleke ukuba siyithakazelele imbizo elolu hlobo xa sikhumbula intlungu nengcinezelo esisuka kuyo phantsi korhulumente wamandulo, urhulumente wocalu-calulo, urhulumente owayenguzwi-lakhe, apho ubutyebi beli lizwe babukelwe ibathwana labantu ngeli xesha lixa oluMnyama lwalubulaleka phantsi kwentlupheko esisajamelene nayo inanamhlanje.

While we have come a long way since 1994 in building a participatory culture, we acknowledge that we can never say that we have arrived. Therefore, we see these Imbizos as yet another significant step towards making a reality of the maxim first enshrined in the Freedom Charter: "The people shall indeed govern!"

As Buffalo City, we are constantly engaged in a variety of processes aimed at becoming more responsive to the needs of our communities, and we adopt the view that we must use all the tools at our disposal to understand better what the masses are saying and thinking. This becomes even more important in reaching the majority in our communities who are poor. The proper functioning of our newly-elected Ward Committees will therefore be critical to a healthy local participatory democracy.

Lo Masipala wethu uyi-Buffalo City uzinike uxanduva lokuqinisekisa ukuba sijongana nazo emehlweni iimfuno zabantu, kwaye sizimisele ukwenza konke okusemandleni ukuqinisekisa ukuba ilizwi labantu liyavakala, neemfuno zabo ziyasatyelwa, ingakumbi iimfuno zesininzi sabantu bethu abahluphrekayo. Loo nto ithethe ukuba ezi Ward Committees nizinyulileyo kuza kufuneka zibhinqe omfutshane, ziqiniseke ukuba imisebenzi yazo iqaqambisa uluvo neemfuno zabantu.

Comrades, it is in this spirit, and building on the solid foundation created by my predecessor, Sindisile Maclean, the first Executive Mayor of Buffalo City, that I and my Mayoral Committee felt it absolutely necessary to engage the people of Buffalo City directly in these Imbizos. [In paying tribute to Comrade Maclean for his sterling contribution, I want also on a personal note to extend our heartfelt sympathies to him and his family for the loss of his mother this past week.]

I have always believed that our communities collectively constitute the Municipality's most significant and influential partner in the administration and management of the affairs of our people, and in driving Buffalo City's developmental agenda. Your presence here today shows that you also share and support this principle, and are ready to play your own role in the ongoing reconstruction of our communities. This is a welcome show of commitment on the part of each and every one here, and we salute you.

Ndingumntu okholelwa ekutbini uluntu lwethu apha e-Buffalo City kufuneka luthabathe inxaxheba ebanzi lunkqenkqeze phambili kulawulo lwemicimbi yabantu nakwizicwangciso zokuphuhlisa i-Buffalo City ngokubanzi. Ubukho benu apha namhlanje bubonakalisa mhlophe ukuba nani niyayingqina le mbono yam, kwaye nizimisele ukuthabatha loo nxaxheba ilindelekileyo kuni ekwakheni uluntu lwethu. Siyazingca ngani, kwaye sinibulela ngokuzinikela kwenu. Sibamba ngazibini.

I must also acknowledge the efforts made by your Councillors and other community leaders in sensitizing you to the importance of today's gathering, and in ensuring that the necessary logistics like transport and security are in place to assist you in your desire to be part of this gathering.

Andilibelanga ukukhahlela ooCeba bethu nezinye iinkokheli zoluntu ngomsebenzi omkhulu noncomekayo eziwenzileyo zidala umdla ebantwini ngokubhekiselele kule ndibano yanamhlanje ibaluleke kangaka, nangokuqinisekisa ukuba kwenziwe amalungiselelo angawo kwizinto ezifana nezithuthi nokhuseleko lwenu, ukuqinisekisa ukuba nilapha namhlanje ngobuninzi benu.

Our principal mandate as your Municipality is to deliver on community needs and aspirations as articulated by the affected communities themselves. It was with this mandate in mind, when I took office as Executive Mayor in March this year, that I made a solemn pledge to accelerate the rate of development and service delivery.

I would like to believe that we have already taken decisive steps towards making this pledge a reality. During the 18 Imbizos to be held over the next fortnight in our various settlements throughout the municipality, we will be sharing what we have done, as well as many of the positive developments that communities can expect in the next six to eighteen months, that promise in different ways to add substance to our commitment to create a better life for all our people.

Sele ke sithabathe amanyathelo abonakalayo ukuzalisekisa esi sibhambathiso. Kwezi mbizo ziyi-18 siza kuzibamba kwiziphaluka ngeziphaluka ze-Buffalo City kwezi veki zimbini zilandelayo siza kuthi thaca etafileni iingxelo zemigama esele siyihambile, sinichazele nangemisebenzi esiza kuyenza kwezi nyanga zintandathu ukuya kwezilishumi elinesibhozo ezizayo, imisebenzi enjongo zayo ukukufezekisa uxanduva esizinike lona lokuphucula ubomi nentlalo yabantu bethu.

Friends, comrades and citizens, to embark on a journey, it is vital to know your desired destination. Allow me to reiterate our commitment to the vision towards which Buffalo City has been striving for the past five years: we want a Buffalo City that is "a people-centred place of opportunity where the basic needs of all are met in a safe, healthy and sustainable environment."

Zihlobo, maqabane, zima-mhlaba zase-Buffalo City, kubalulekile ukuba umntu azazi apho aya khona ngaphambi kokususa unyawo athabathe uhambo. Ndivumeleni ke ukuba ndinikhumbuze ngombono wethu othi, "Sifuna i-Buffalo City ibe yindawo ebaxabisileyo nebahloniphayo abantu, indawo eyokozela amathuba okuziphucula, apho iimfuno zabantu ezingundoqo zifezekiswa phantsi kweemeko ezikhuselekileyo, ezisempilweni, neziya kuhlala zimi unaphakade."

This is a noble political goal on which we will not compromise, and that we do not want to believe is unachievable, even in our generation. But how do we translate it in practical ways into the better life that we long for?

Being people-centred, we believe, means that the highest values of ubuntu should be aimed for both within our municipal administration as well as in the way in which the organization services its clients. It implies also the rediscovery of a communal culture characterized by the values of respect, humility, generosity of spirit and mutual support.

Sikholelwa ekuthini, xa sithetha ngokuhlonipha nokuxabisa abantu, sithetha ukuba kufuneka sikhokhelise kwaye siqaqaqmbise ubuntu kwindlela esilawula ngayo uMasipala nakwiindlela esikhonza ngayo uluntu lwethu. Loo nto ithethe ukuba kufuneka sibuyele kundalashe, sixabise izithethe zethu ezibeka phambili imbeko, ukuzithoba, ububele, sithwalisane imithwalo yethu.

It leaves no place for the abuse of women and children in our communities, and it reminds us that we can never turn our backs on the poor and the vulnerable.

For Buffalo City to be a place of opportunity to us means to be a place where all citizens must be free to develop to their full potential, a place into which investors will be keen to plough their money and achieve good returns, a place where those who wish to work don't have to beg, steal or scavenge for bread on the city's refuse dumps.

Sikholelwa ekuthini, ukuze i-Buffalo City ibizwe ngokuthi yindawo enamathuba amahle, kufuneka ibe yindawo apho ummi ngamnye aya kuba nako ukuzakha nokuziphuhlisa kangangoko anako; indawo apho oongxowa-nkulu baya kuthakazelela ukutyala iimali zabo kuyo, kunjalo nje bazuze lukhulu ngokwenza oko; indawo apho umntu ozimisele ukuphangela aya kuyifumana impangelo, angaziboni sele engqiba, esiba izinto zabantu, okanye egqogqa imigqonmo yenkunkuma ezingela into etyiwayo.

To prioritise basic needs of people means that we in local government, hand in hand with our colleagues and comrades in the provincial and national spheres, must develop a culture where the social welfare of all, but necessarily and most urgently the poorer and less mobile, is addressed as decisively as possible over as short a time as possible.

Ukubeka phambili iimfuno ezingundoqo zabantu kuthetha ukuba thina apha koorhulumente bamakhaya, sibambisene namaqabane ethu kwa-province nakwa-national, kufuneka sizifundise ukubeka phambili iimfuno zoluntu jikelele, sigxininise ngakumbi kwiimfuno zabantu abahluphekayo nabangakwaziyo ukuzenzela, sithi kananjalo sizizalisekise ngokukhawuleza ezo mfuno.

Throughout our consultation processes, all communities have repeatedly identified crime and insecurity as one of the most critical of all issues to be addressed. We know that safety will continue to be elusive while people remain desperate, and that none of us can be secure if any one of us is hungry, homeless or hopeless.

We have elevated health to be one of the central pillars of Buffalo City's vision, in view of the massive challenges of the coming decades, which constitute a real and present danger to all of our efforts to build a better life for our people.

Sibone kufanelekile ukuba sizinike ingqwalasela enkulu iinkonzo zempilo apha e-Buffalo City, oko sikwenza ngokubona ukuba iminyaka ezayo isiphathele imingeni esele kucaca ukuba iya kuba yimiqobo kumalinge ethu okuphucula ubomi babantu bethu.

Linked with our health, a sustainable environment constitutes a vision that holds before us the challenge of meeting the needs of this generation without compromising the rights of the next generation, because feeding our bellies today should never mean that the soil is barren for our grandchildren tomorrow.

Sithe kananjalo saqonda ukuba iimeko abaphila phantsi kwazo abantu jikelele zisidalela omnye umngeni wokuqinisekisa ukuba iinzame zethu zokufezekisa amadinga esi sizukulwana aziwabeki emngciphekweni amalungelo esizukulwana esizayo, into ethetha ukuthi, kufuneka siqinisekise ukuba sitya sibeka, sikhumbule ukuba kukho abantwana bethu apha emva kwethu, ekuya kufuneka ukuba nabo babe nento etyiwayo.

We know that the great majority of our people yearn for a place that nurtures and rewards entrepreneurial spirit, that cares for the vulnerable and those on the margins of society, and that provides a place in the sun for all today's and tomorrow's citizens. The question is, what can we as a city do to advance this vision and translate it into reality?

Comrades, it is one thing to have a vision, but we need to go further in applying our collective wisdom in formulating a strategy and a plan, with clear objectives and time-frames, to guide the process of delivery and to meet the expectations of our people.

Maqabane, intle into yokuba nombono. Kodwa kufuneka singapheleli apho. Kufuneka sisisibenzisane, sicebisane ukuveza iqhinga nobuchule bokuqinisekisa ukuiba iinkonzo ezibheka ebantwini ziyayizalisekisa ngokwenene iminqweno yabo, kunjalo nje siqnisekise ukuba oko sikwenza ngamaxesha esiwamiseleyo nafanelekileyo.

The series of IDP hearings that the Municipality has conducted since 2001 have assisted us greatly to understand the immediate and long-term needs of the community and to plan our development and service-delivery programmes and activities accordingly.

Amaphulo ethu okuza kusabela ebantwini esawaqalisa ngomnyaka ka-2001 abe lulutho kuthi, kuba asincedile saziqonda iimfuno zenu ezikhawulezileyo kunye nezo zexssha elide, ngalo ndlela ke saba nako ukuziqulunqa ngobuchule iinkqubo zethu zokwakha nokunikezaela iinkonzo ebantwini.

We have respectfully referred these findings back to you for review over the years, and we have always taken special precautions to ensure that the revised IDP continues to articulate your developmental priorities.

Niya kukhumbula ke ukuba minyaka le besibetha sibuyelela kuni malunga nezicelo nemiyalelo enisinike yona, simana ukunibuza ukuba nisathetha la nto beniyithetha na. Isizathu soko ibikukuqinisekisa ukuba ngenene nangenyaniso izicwangciso zethu zisahamba neminqweno yenu ngokubhekiselele kwiinkonzo enizizuzayo ngokunjalo nemisebenzi yokwakha nokuphuhlisa imimandla enihlala kuyo.

Our recent IDP Review has revolved around six key issues and objectives that have emerged out of consultative processes. These issues are:

Isicwangciso sethu sokunibonelela ngeenkonzo nophuhliso sigxininisa kwimiba emithandathu ethe yaqaqamba kwiindibano zethu nani, xa besicela uluvo lwenu: Le miba yile:

1. Buffalo City has had to recognize that we lack a clearly-defined and long-term development strategy – a road-map to a better future.
2. We have low economic growth, high unemployment and high levels of poverty and inequality.
3. Our revenue-base is under pressure and our efforts to address the needs of the poor are at risk of proving unsustainable.
4. Many households still lack adequate transport, social services, economic opportunities and an environment that nurtures their communal humanity.
5. We risk using our natural resources in an unsustainable manner that will compromise the interests of future generations.

In relation to each of these challenges, comrades, we have set ourselves objectives in order to take the city forward:

1. We want to put in place a clearly-defined and long-term development strategy that can unite and mobilize all stakeholders to take forward Buffalo City's vision in tangible ways.
2. We want to create an enabling environment for an economy that is growing, diversifying, generating increasing numbers of quality jobs and reducing inequalities in our society.
3. We want to find innovative ways to grow our revenue and improve the efficiency of our financial management.
4. We want a city-region that is characterized by sustainable human settlements in which people can live fulfilled and dignified lives.
5. We want to ensure that our developmental practices are managed in a way that meets the needs of our people now, without compromising the rights of our children to meet their own needs.

Sithe ke xa sijonga le mingeni, sabona kufanelekile ukuba simise iinjongo eziqinileyo zibe ngumkhomba-ndlela kwiintshukumo nemigudu yethu. Ezo njongo zezi:

1. Sifuna ukumisela isicwangciso esicacileyo nesiya kuthabatha ixesha elide sisebenza, sicwangciso eso siya kubamanya abantu base-Buffalo City sibancedise ekwakheni esi sixeko.
2. Sifuna ukwakha amathuba neziboneleleyo ezizizo, apho uqoqosho luya kuba nako ukukhula, lunabe, ludale amathuba awongezelelekileyo emisebenzi ephucukileyo, kuphele ukungalingani ngokweemeko zokuphila phakathi koluntu.
3. Sifuna iindlela ezintsha neziqinisekileyo zokukhulisa uvimba wethu wemali, ziphucuke neendlela esilawula ngazo imali.
4. Sifuna ukwakha ingingqi enezindlu zokuhlala eziphucukileyo nezithembekileyo, apho abantu bethu baya kuphila ngesidima nangovuyo.
5. Sifuna ukuqinisekisa ukuba imigaqo yethu yokwakha nokuphuhlisa i-Buffalo City isebenza ngendlela eziqinisekisa ukuba iimfuno zabantu ziyafezekiswa, kodwa singawaphithikezi amalungelo abantwana bethu kwezabo iimfuno.

But inasmuch as our IDP processes over the years have enabled us to make measurable progress, we have also come to recognise that the planning tools that we have been utilizing do not necessarily serve us well in meeting the longer-term challenges of building a productive, inclusive, sustainable and well-governed city-region that is able to attract investment, develop and maintain our infrastructure and provide attractive opportunities to our citizens.

Nangona izicwangciso zethu ze-IDP zisincedile ukuqhubela phambili ngemisebenzi yethu eluntwini, siphawule ukuba izixhobo esinazo nesizisebenzisayo kule migudu yethu azikwazi ukumelana nomngeni wokwakha isixeko esithwala iziqhamo, isixeko esinako konke okufunekayo, isixeko esizinzileyo, isixeko esinolawulo oluncomekayo, nesixeko esikwaziyo ukurhwebesha utyalo-mali, siphuhlise sinonophele i-infrastructure yaso, sithi kannanjalo siveze amathuba okuziphuhlisa kubemi baso.

Again and again, our people have been crying out for jobs, for the opportunity to be productive and self-sufficient. But the dilemma that we face is that Buffalo City's economy is too dependent on a few big industries, and the formal employment sector has been steadily declining over the past ten years. This is a phenomenon that is not unique to Buffalo City or South Africa, as the global economy becomes increasingly integrated and trade barriers are removed.

Abantu bethu bathe gqolo besenza isimbonono sokuswela imisebenzi, belangazelela amathuba okuziphuhlisa nokuzenzela. Ingxaki esijongene nayo yeyokuba i-Buffalo City ixhomekeke kakhulu kumashishini amakhulu ambalwa, kwaye namashishini anika imisebenzi aye encipha kule minyaka ilishumi iphelileyo. Kambe ke i-Buffalo City ayiyodwa kweli shwangusha, njengoko ukunatyiswa koqoqsho elizweni liphela kubangela ilizwe lixhomekeke kwelinye kwezoqoqosho.

To add to our challenge, we have to find ways to ensure that the quality of our municipal infrastructure and assets does not degenerate to the point where a vicious cycle of decay becomes counter-productive to the prospects of economic growth and job-creation.

Ukongeza kule mingeni, kufuneka sifumane iindlela zokuqinisekisa ukuba imeko ye-infrastructure neziseko ze-Buffalo City ayihli kangangokuba ibe ngumqobo kumalinge ethu okukhulisa uqoqosho nokudala amathuba empangelo.

Comrades, we know that you have not elected us to curse the darkness of our challenging circumstances, but rather to meet these challenges head-on. Buffalo City's leadership has grasped the nettle, and is now engaged in the process of articulating a City Development Strategy. This is a longer-term plan that stretches far beyond the term of one Executive Mayor, which will pass soon enough.

We recognize that we have a developmental duty that we will not shirk – we need to consider the most viable route towards sustainable long-term development and job-creation, and then build the kind of partnerships with other spheres of government, with state-owned enterprises, with the private sector and with the masses of our people in order to put the region on a new and positive growth trajectory.

Ewe siyavuma ukuba sinoxanduva lokwakha nokuphuhlisa i-Buffalo City, xanduva olo singasayi kulutyeshela. Into ekufuneka siyenzile kukuqinisekisa ngeyona ndlela iya kusisa empumulelweni kwimigudu yethu yokuphuhlisa nokudala amathuba empangelo, sakhe ubudlelane namaqabane ethu kwi-province nakuzwelonke, sakhe ubedlelane namaziko karhulumente, sakhe ubudlelane noosomashishini, sakhe ubudlelane noluntu jikelele, sithi ngokwenza njalo siyibeke i-Buffalo City kumendo wempumelelo nophuhliso oluncumisayo.

The aim is singular and focused: it is not to create empires, to build grand monuments or to leave legacies to one's ego, but rather to build a better life for our people.

The City Development Strategy process thus far has included a wide range of stakeholders, and we are excited at the quality of creative energy and thinking that has been brought to bear on our longer-term development challenges.

Kwisicwangciso sethu sokuphuhlisa i-Buffalo City, sibandakanye amaqela ngamaqela anomdla nesabelo kulo msebenzi, kwaye ukuzimisela nobugcisa esele bubonakaliswe ngaba bantu kuyasivuyisa kwaye kululutho kuthi.

There is a broad and strong consensus among all stakeholders that if Buffalo City is to meet its developmental challenges, if we are to grow jobs and reduce poverty and reliance in a sustainable way, then we have to upgrade our connections with the world around us.

This includes the deepening and enlargement of our port and the improvement of road, rail and air links, particularly with the Gauteng region where the critical mass of South Africa's economic activity takes place.

The growing consensus also recognizes the need to promote the city as part of a region: the eastern part of the Eastern Cape is the poorest and least developed part of the province. The city needs to position itself to be the catalyst for growth in the rural hinterland and to service it appropriately. This must include:

• gearing ourselves up to service several ASGISA projects in the area, for example the Umzimvubu agricultural irrigation scheme and timber initiatives
• recapitalizing municipal infrastructure, dealing with the city's water and sanitation problems and electricity backlogs
• packaging public land for development
• beginning to integrate the second economy into the mainstream economy through the promotion of the services sector and by assisting in SMME development.

Siyavumelana ngembono ethi kufuneka i-Buffalo City le siyakhe, siyikhulise ibe yingingqi elulutho kwimpuma yePhondo leMpuma-Koloni, apho kugquba intlupheko nendlala. I-Buffalo City kufuneka izimisele ukuba iya kuba lihlumelo kwimigudu yokuphucula le ngingqi ibukhulu bayo ingamaphandle, izimisele ukuba iya kuyibonelela ngeemfuno zayo. Oku kuthetha ukuba:

• Kufuneka sizilungiselele ukuncedisa kumaphulo e-ASGISA akule ngingqi, umzekelo iphulo lezolimo lonkcenkcesho eliphaya eMzimvubu ngokunjalo nophuhliso lwemveliso yamahlathi alapho.
• Siphucule i-infrastructure yethu, silungise amakhwiniba kubonelelo lwamanzi nombane.
• Siphuhlise umhlaba ongasetyenziswayo ube nemveliso.
• Sincedisane noosomashishini abaskhasayo ukuba bakwazi ukufikelela basebenzisane nabo sele bekhulile ngokuthi sikhawulelane nabo kwiimfuno zabo.

Most of these interventions are of such a scale that the city alone could not possibly be expected to bring them all to fruition. Absolutely central to Buffalo City's 20-year plan therefore is the support and involvement of provincial and national government.

Zonke ke ezi zicwangciso zingumsebenzi omkhulu kangangokuba i-Buffalo City ayinakuze iwuthwale iyodwa. Kungoko bufuneka ngamandla ubukho nenkxaso yorhuluemnte bephondo norhulumente kazwelonke.

The provincial government of the Eastern Cape has historically been focused far more on rural than on urban development. Buffalo City hopes to persuade our comrades that there is a good economic and political rationale, in our view, that through our own growth and development, opportunities for the rural hinterland will be expanded.

Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, urhulumente weli phondo leMpuma-Koloni uthande ukujolisa kakhulu kuphuliso lwamaphandle. Thina ke siyi-Buffalo City sizimisele ukubonisana nala maqabane ethu akwiphondo, siwaqinisekise ngobulumko bokuphulisa izixeko ezifana ne-Buffalo City, ekuya kuthi ngalo ndlela kuvele kwaye kwande amathuba okuphuhlisa amaphandle eli phondo.

Whilst our provincial growth strategies have thus far seemed to concentrate more on rural development, we believe that attention must be paid to developing the potential of the cities and towns. While Buffalo City is keenly aware of the interdependence of urban and rural areas, the kind of growth that is necessary to meet the millennium development goals, to create jobs and to reduce poverty, can only come from building on the competitive strengths of the economic engines that exist in our urban centers.

The city also hopes to build a mutually beneficial relationship with the other major city in the province, the Nelson Mandela metropole. Rather than competing with the metropole – for instance, for investment into the city's Industrial Development Zone, Buffalo City would like to see more co-ordination and co-operation.

Kananjalo i-Buffalo City ifuna ukwakha ubuhlobo obuluqilima ne-Nelson Mandela Metro. Asifuni ukukhuphisana ne-Metro ngemiba efana notyalo-mali kwezi-IDZ zethu. Into esiyifunayo thina yintsebenziswano nolungelelwaniso lwemisebenzi.

Of course, a local consensus will not be sufficient: we know that we need to win support for our strategies from both our provincial and national comrades and decision-makers in order to make the decisive developmental leap forward that we believe is possible.

Because the city strategy hinges crucially on protecting our existing manufacturing base while attempting to diversify, the upgrading of the port is absolutely critical. This can only be done with national government support and support from Transnet. Persuading government to see the developmental logic of this approach will be one of Buffalo City's most important challenges.

Kucacile ke ukuba kuya kufneka landisiwe izibuko lethu leenqanawa, njengoko isicwangciso sethu sokuphuhlisa esi sixeko sigxininisa ekukhuseleni nasekwandiseni amashishini esinawo. Oku singakwenza kuphela ngokuncediswa ngurhulumente kazwelonke nangenkxaso ka-Transnet. Sizimisele ukubonisana norhulumente kazwelonke ngobulumko bokuba ancedisane nathi kweli phulo.

We know that we cannot take our existing industries for granted, and to retain the present economic drivers of the region as well as to attract new industry will require that the city's infrastructure is developed to make us a more attractive investment destination. We are totally committed to agitate vigorously in the corridors of decision-making in order to translate this into reality.

At the end of November, we are planning to have a broad and inclusive stakeholder conference to strengthen the consensus around our long-term developmental strategy. In the interim, it is important that the grassroots of our communities should also engage in critical debate about where they want our city to be twenty years from now.

Siceba ukubiza inkomfa enkulu yawo onke amaqela achapazelekayo ekupheleni kuka-Novemba lo, apho siya kuphefumlelana, siqinsie imvisiswano nembono yethu ngesi sicwangciso sokuphuhlisa i-Buffalo City. Okwakaloku nje, ndimema uluntu lwethu ukuba luwuxovule lo mbandela, lubonisane ukuba sifuna i-Buffalo City ibe njani na kwiminyaka eyi-20 ezayo.

Comrades, while many of the services and development programmes contained in our IDP are basic and common to all communities – like the provision of electricity, reticulated water, the maintenance of roads and the development of community facilities – some are specific to the development needs of particular communities and are influenced to a large extent by the dynamics prevailing on the ground in those communities.

I must however stress that Buffalo City Municipality's programme of creating a better life for all our people has been fraught with challenges, the most prominent being the immediate availability of funds for development and upgrading projects.

Ndithi mandiyigxininise kambe into ethi, uxanduva lwe-Buffalo City lokwakhela abantu bayo ubomi obuphucukile buzele ziinkathazo nemingeni. Owona mngeni uphambili ke kukunqongophala kwemali yamaphulo okwakha nokuphuhlisa.

The need for proper and decent housing has always been a top priority for Buffalo City Municipality, alongside the systematic alleviation of poverty.

Umba wezindlu uya kuhlala ungundoqo kumntu wonke, ngokunjalo namaphulo okupheliswa kwentlupheko.

During the term of office of my predecessor, we have spent R268 million to construct 9293 housing units, and we are aiming to speed up this process to construct a further 13600 units in the next three years, dependent on the availability of funding.

Ngethuba bekusaphethe uSodolophu obengaphambi kwam, sichithe R268 million ekwkwakheni izndlu eziyi-9293, kwaye sizimisele ukuwuleqa ngakumbi lo msebenzi ngokwakha ezinye izindlu ezi-13600 kule minyaka mithathu izayo, phofu sikhokhelwa bubukho bemali.

I want to say to the Hon. MEC for Local Government, Housing & Traditional Affairs that we in Buffalo City remain fully committed to rolling back the spatial legacy of apartheid by making available suitable land for building sustainable and integrated settlements, as and when funding is made available. While we continue to wrestle with the challenge of the capacity of our infrastructure, we are also mindful though of the fact that once we have housed our people, they will also require jobs and schools.

I am pleased to announce that on Tuesday this week I signed a trilateral agreement with the national Minister of Housing, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu and MEC Sam Kwelita, for a long-term housing initiative that will be funded jointly by these two housing partners.

Ndinovuyo ukunazisa ukuba, ngolweSibini wale veki, ndityikitye isivumelwano nomphathiswa wezeziNdlu kaZwelonke uNkosazana Lindiwe Sisulu kunye noMphathiswa wezeZindlu wePhondo uMnumzana Sam Kwelita. Ngokwesi sivumelwano, aba rhulumente bobabini baza kusipha imali yokwakha izindlu apha e-Buffalo City.

The project will target the Duncan Village Redevelopment Initiative as a pilot project and will extend to other areas within Buffalo City within the next five years. I am very happy to report back to you that the MEC has accepted our business plan for this mass housing project.

Lo msebenzi uza kuqala phaya kuGompo, unwenwele nakwezinye iziphaluka kule minyaka mihlanu izayo. Ndinovuyo ukunazisa ukuba u-MEC uKwelita sele ezamkele izicwangciso zethu zokwenza lo msebenzi.

We have also demonstrated our commitment to speeding up these processes by applying for, and being granted, full accreditation to drive the delivery of housing at a local level.

Sithe kuba sifuna ukuba mawukhawuleze lo msebenzi wokwakha izindlu, sacela imvume yokuba siwusingathe ngokwethu, Siyinikiwe ke loo mvume.

Our goal is to create healthy and sustainable human settlements and to ensure that every citizen of Buffalo City has a roof above their head.

Housing of course goes hand in hand with the supply of electricity and the provision of clean reticulated water to our communities, as well as increasing the challenge of providing other community services.

Ukwakhiwa kwezindlu ke kuhamba nokubonelelwa koluntu ngombane namanzi, kunye nezinye iinkonzo eziqhlelekileyo.

Your Municipality has in the past two years managed to provide electricity to over 5 000 households and on behalf of our colleagues in the provincial government, to electrify 54 schools throughout Buffalo City.

Kule minyaka mibini igqithileyo lo Masipala wenu ufakele umbane kumakhaya ayi-5 000, waphinda wafaka umbane kwizikolo eziyi-54 egameni likarhulumente wephondo.

We are currently in the process of designing specifications for the electrification of newly-built low-income houses in a number of areas, including Duncan Village, kwaTshatshu, Mdantsane, Ginsberg and Bisho.

Kungoku nje sixakekile sisenza amalungiselelo okufakela umbane kwizindlu ezintsha ezisanda kwakhiwa kwimimandla eliqela efana noGompo, kwaTshatshu, apha eMdantsane, eGinsberg naseBhisho.

In Mdantsane, we also have projects under way to improve the quality of street lighting, which will contribute towards creating a safer environment.

Apha eMdantsane sikwanalo nemiphulo eliqhubayo kungoku nje lokuphucula izibane zasezitalatweni, into leyo eya kuncedisa ukuqinisekisa ukhuseleko lwabantu.

We have an ongoing programme of refurbishing Buffalo City's water reticulation infrastructure, this alongside our planned installation of water supply services to newly-built housing units.

Sinephulo eliqhubayo lokuthsintsha nokuphucula imibhobho ehambisa amanzi kwi-Buffalo City iphela, kananjalo silungiselela nokufaka amanzi kwizindlu ezisanda kwakhiwa.

The Municipality is also presently building new water towers at Kidds Beach and Nompumelelo to supply water to 2 025 households, an additional storage reservoir in Mdantsane to feed 1 400 households, and a bulk water supply system in Newlands to cater for 360 houses.

UMasipala wakha iitanki zamanzi e-Kidds Beach nakwaNompumelelo kungoku nje, kwaye ziza kubonelela amakhaya ayi2 025 ngamanzi. Kwakhona sakha elinye ipitsi lamanzi apha eMdantsane eliza kubonelela amakhaya ayi-1 400 ngamanzi. Phaya eNxarhuni simisela inkqubo yokuhanjiswa kwamanzi eza kubonelela imizi eyi-360.

Earlier this year, we opened the new Buffalo City Regional Waste Site at Berlin, which has cost R60 million thus far and which will ultimately receive all of Mdantsane's waste. This facility complies with the highest environmental standards, and will ultimately boost the viability of industry in the broader region and make a critical contribution to advancing the city's vision.

Our plan is that as the new site accommodates greater volumes of waste, the present unlicensed sites in Mdantsane and Second Creek will be closed in a manner that mitigates the long-term environmental risks.

Injongo yethu kukuzivala ezi tiphu zilapha eMdantsane nase-Second Creek, njengoko le yaseBerlin iza kuba nako ukuyithwala yonke inkunkuma ephuma apha eMdantsane.

We continue to spend numerous millions each year on the development and upgrading of sports facilities in Dimbaza, Ginsberg, Zwelitsha, and Mdantsane's own Sisa Dukashe. We have also developed more basic facilities, within our means, at Nompumelelo, Needs Camp and Ilitha. We have put in place a medium-term plan to upgrade and develop a number of our community halls and libraries, since we see these facilities as important in the social, political and educational development of our communities.

Sisathe gqolo ukusebenzisa izigidi zeerandi minyaka le siphuhlisa amabala emidlalo eDimbaza, eGinsberg, kwaZwelitsha, nalapha eMdantsane, nditsho apha kule Sisa Dukashe sikuyo ngalo mzuzu. Siwavulile amabala nakwaNompumelelo, eNeeds Camp, naseLitha ngokuvuma kwepokotho. Sinesicwangciso sokuphuhlisa amaholo oluntu namathala eencwadi, kuba la maziko siwabona enenxaxheba enkulu ayidlalayo kuphuhliso lwabahlali kwezopolitiko, imfundo, nentlalo ngokubanzi.

We are also very proud of the brand new hockey Astroturf that was opened earlier this year in Buffalo Flats, since it provides an international class of facility that is much more accessible to our disadvantaged communities. We want our young people especially to be much more on the sportsfield than on the street.

Perhaps this is an opportune moment to call upon our communities to assist in our fight against vandalism which damages and destroys our communal assets, including the theft of electricity and other materials from mains and substations.

Kambe mandilihlabe ikhwelo kuluntu lwethu ngokubanzi ukuba lusebenzisane nathi kwidabi lokulwa nemihkwa yokonakalisa impahla yoluntu, imikhwa efana nobusela bokuba iintsimbi nobunye ubuxhaka-xhaka kwizitishi zombane.

These criminal actions of a small minority are creating an unnecessary financial burden on the Municipality, resulting in frustrating delays in the provision of much-needed services to our people, and reversing our developmental gains.

On a positive note, comrades, over the next two weeks we will be bringing to our Imbizos the good news that an amount of R4,5 million, or R100 000 per ward has been made available in the present budget for ward-based projects that will be identified through a participatory process that includes your newly-elected ward committees.

Indaba ezimnandi, maqabane, zezokuba kwiimbizo zezthu zezi veki zimbini zizayo siza kuphalaza iingxelo zokuba sibonelela ngemali eyi-R4,5 million eza kusebenza kumaphulo okuphuhlisa ii-Ward zethu, i-Ward nganye ifumana i-R100 000. La maphulo ke aza kubandakanya ezi Ward Committees nisanda kuzinyula.

These projects will depend on the priorities and unique circumstances of each ward, and we look forward to working together with our communities in ensuring that these amounts are well-spent within the next six or seven months.

La maphulo aza kuxhomekeka kwimiba endundoqo neemeko ezingafaniyo ngokwe-Wards zethu, kwaye silindele intsebenziswano enkulu kuluntu jikelele ukuqinisekisa ukuba le mali isetyenziswa ngendlela efanelekileyo.

Of even more significance, I am pleased to announce that we are in the process of identifying an amount of up to R20 million from our budget that will be utilized over the next twelve months for development projects chiefly in disadvantaged areas which have not yet benefited from municipal services or projects. We will engage communities and ward committees directly to identify viable projects to be funded from this amount.

Kambe ke okungamandla kukunazisa ukuba kungoku nje sikhangela imali ekwi-R20 million eza kusetyenziswa kwezi nyanga ziyi-12 zizayo ukuvelisa amaphulo ophuhliso ikakhulu kwimimandla ehlelelekileyo, engekaxhamli kuya phi kwiinkonzo namanye amaphulo kaMasipala. Loo maphulo ke siza kuweva ngani, bahlali, nisebenzisana nee-Ward Committees zenu.

Comrades, on a sober note, I want to commend our people for the support currently given to the Municipality's HIV/AIDS programmes and initiatives. HIV/AIDS affects everybody. It does not matter whether one is infected with the disease or is living with someone who is infected. It does not matter whether the whole family tests positive or negative. The social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS affects everybody. The fight against the pandemic thus becomes everybody's business – both the infected and the affected.

Maqabane, ngokuzithoba okukhulu, ndifuna ukwenza umbulelo kuni ngenkxaso eniyibonakalisa kumaphulo kaMasipala e-HIV/AIDS. Ugawulayo lutshaba lwakhe wonke umntu; akakhethi bani. Nokuba unaye, nokuba akunaye, kuyafana nje. Iziphumo zikagawulana zivakala kwintlalo ekhaya ziphinde zibonakale kuqoqosho lwethu. Kungoko idabi lokulwa lo bhubhane ilidabi likawonke-wonke.

Two years ago the Municipality started inter-sectoral HIV/AIDS forums to counteract fragmented service-provision and lack of information on the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS on the community. Community support for this initiative is highly significant and commendable.

The Municipality also serves as a platform for these forums to access funding from international donors for their awareness, education and support campaigns.

And so, although we are not yet able to measure accurately the massive impact of HIV/AIDS within the community, we are able to see the fruits of a concerted effort on the part of the community to assist the Municipality in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Kungoku nje siyazibona iziqhamo zeenzame zenu zokuncedisana noMasipala kweli dabi, nangona singekakwazi ukutsho ukuthi wande kanagakanani na lo bhubhane apha e-Buffalo City.

Part of our commitment to fighting the challenge of HIV/AIDS is that our municipal clinics in Nompumelelo, Fort Grey, Duncan Village, Scenery Park, Mzamo'mhle and Ginsberg have been extended in order to develop the capacity to offer special services of voluntary counselling and testing.

Sibonile ke ukuba, njengenxalenye yokulwa imingeni ebangelwa ngugawulayo, masizandise iikliniki zethu ezikwaNompumelelo, eFort grey, kuGompo, eScenery Park, eMzamomhle naseGinsberg, ukwenzela ukuba zibe nako ukumelana nalo msebenzi wongezelelekileyo.

These services are regarded as essential in view of the tragic fact that almost one in three females who use our antenatal services are HIV positive.

Perhaps the most pressing issue amongst our people has always been the need for more job opportunities. Last month the media carried a report in which it was argued that Buffalo City has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. We must acknowledge honestly that this has proved a great challenge, and we acknowledge the social impact that it has on households and whole families.

Mandilikhuphe litsole elithi, umbandela wokunqaba kwemisebenzi usoloko ungundoqo ebantwini. Kule nyanga iphelileyo kuvele inqaku kumajelo endaba, lisithi i-Buffalo City yeyona ndawo ithwaxwa kakhulu kukunqaba kwemisebenzi. Masivume kambe ukuba lo ngumngeni omkhulu, sivume kananjalo ukuba le meko idala unxunguphalo kwiintsapho namakhaya amaninzi.

This is why, comrades, when the necessity arose recently for me to intervene decisively to improve the cleansing programmes of the city which had degenerated as a result of our ageing fleet, it was appropriate that the intervention be labour-intensive to provide at least some opportunity for our people. Between June and September, an amount of more than R5 million was made available and more than 2 000 of our people were engaged across the municipality to improve the environment in our communities.

That is why, when R2,7 million was made available earlier this year in order to improve grass-mowing and bush-clearing in disadvantaged areas, we engaged more than 25 emerging contractors to assist us.

That is also why we have vigorously sought additional funding for labour-intensive cleaning and upgrading projects in Duncan Village, where thousands of our people live in inhuman circumstances. We are soon to launch a R3.84 million programme that will not only provide more than 170 jobs for our local people over the next two years, but will also visibly improve the environment of Duncan Village and reduce the health risks that our people face every day.

But we are not unique in South Africa in facing the challenge of broadening our economic base. We believe that we will do this best by creating the conditions that will support a new class of entrepreneurs from among those who were historically denied access to opportunities to create wealth.

Lo mngeni wokuphuhlisa uqoqosho asingomngeni ujongene noMzantsi Afrika kuphela. Kodwa ke thina siqinisekile ukuba siya kuliphumelela eli dabi ngokuthi sidale amathuba aya kuncedisa ukuphuhlisa nokuvelisa oosomashishini apha phakathi koluntu lwethu olwaluvinjwe amathuba phantsi korhulumente wengcinezelo.

Comrades, this is not intended to mean a laissez-faire approach to local government, and a car-washer on every street corner. But we believe that a creative, innovative, disciplined, determined and empowered person who is given the opportunity and the support to pursue a business idea, will ultimately add more significant value to the community and the country by "growing jobs" .

As your Executive Mayor, I commit myself to a co-operative strategy, working with the other spheres of government, in order to take this agenda forward.

NjengoSodolophu wenu, ndiyazinikela kwaye ndizibophelela ekuthini ndiya kusebenzisana namanye amanqwanqwa oburhuluemente ukuqinisekisa ukuba zihambela phambili ezi njongo.

Meanwhile, we are working hard to improve the city's and the region's economy. One of the significant developments has been the launch of the Buffalo City Development Agency (BCDA), with the welcome support of our partners the Industrial Development Corporation. The Agency has been created to drive the process of attracting inward investment that will ultimately change the face of the seafront, which is one of our prime natural assets.

While questions have been asked as to whether the BCDA should not have a broader developmental mandate extending to more disadvantaged areas, the benefits of a focused approach are already being seen with massive investor interest in the area, which will certainly make Buffalo City more attractive to visitors and ultimately create sustainable jobs. An extension of the Agency's mandate will be considered once the key deliverables of the present phase have been achieved.

Ewe kambe ikho imibuzo ethi kungani na imisenbenzi yale-BCDA inganwenweli kwimimandla ehlelelekileyo. Impendulo yam ithi, bubulumko ukuba amehlo ethu siwajolise kulo mmandla osele uzibonakalisile ukuba unomtsalane kubatyali-zimali, ummandla onomtsalane kubahambi nabakhenkethi. Siya kuthi ke xa sele sizibona iziqhamo zemiguqu yethu, sandule ukuzaneka ngakumbi iimpiko ze-BCDA, ziye kufikelela nakweminye imimandla.

The Municipality has also created a dedicated Local Economic Development Department. The Department's specific brief is to act as a catalyst to encourage economic development and growth within Buffalo City as a necessary condition for the provision of jobs for the people.

We have already begun the process of developing a holistic strategy for local economic development, and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Buffalo City business community for their valuable and informed inputs into the articulation of this strategy. Their commitment to the economic development of Buffalo City shows that they are also concerned with the challenges of poverty and under-development.

We are presently working hand-in-hand with development agencies in the Province to facilitate the resuscitation of the Fort Jackson and Dimbaza industrial areas. We are constantly knocking at the doors of our developmental partners, both nationally and abroad, looking for sustainable investments and other job-creation opportunities

Kungoku nje sisebenza ngokubambisana namajelo ophuhliso apha kwiphondo sizama ukuvuselela la mimandla yoshishino ise-Fort Jackson naseDimbaza. Sithe gqolo ukunkqonkqoza kwiminyango yabahlobo bethu elizweni liphela, sikhangela utyalo-mali nezinye iindlela zokudala amathuba empangelo.

As a partner in the East London Industrial Development Zone, we have provided a package of significant incentives to attract investors to Buffalo City to accelerate economic growth, which in turn will lead to the creation of jobs for our people.

Njengoko sinesabelo kwi-IDZ, sibone kufanelekile ukwenza izibonelelo ezincumisayo ukuzama ukurhwebesha oongxowa-nkulu beze kulo mmandla, kuphuhliseke uqoqosho, kuvele amathuba empangelo, baxhamle abantu bethu.

We also realize that guaranteed and sustainable employment is related to the availability of relevant skills. We have therefore mandated our Local Economic Development Department to accelerate its skills development initiatives and to ensure that unemployed people have the necessary skills that local employers are looking for.

Kambe sinento esiyiqondayo, le yokuba imisebenzi ekhoyo ifuna izakhono eziyifaneleyo. Kungoko siyalele ela Sebe likaMasipala lezoPhuhliso loQoqosho ukuba libe ngathi liqinisa umbhinqo kumaphulo alo okuphuhlisa ubugcisa nezakhono kuluntu lwethu, liqinisekise ukuba abantu bethu banazo ezi zakhono zifunwa ngabaqeshi.

I must thank our people, especially young unemployed people, for taking the initiative to attend these skills development seminars and workshops in large numbers. This is very encouraging to us, and we are committed to sustaining this programme for as long as possible.

Mandinibulele zidwesha zakowethu, ingakumbi abantu abatsha nabangapha-ngeliyo, ngokuzibonakalisa ngobuninzi benu kula maphulo okuphuhlisa izakhono. Iyasikhuthaza ke loo nto, isenza sizimisele ukuqhubela phambili ngalo msebenzi.

Of course, there are people who are already skilled but lack the proper opportunities to earn a living from their knowledge. What we have done to address this situation has been to establish a Small/Medium/Micro Enterprise (SMME) Unit, which to date has assisted a number of small entrepreneurs and manufacturers to set up their own business ventures.

The unit also assists small entrepreneurs to access whatever funding is available for them at national and provincial Government levels and from private sector companies.

The Municipality continues to explore new and innovative ways of improving the local economy and ensuring that job opportunities and self-help schemes are available for our people.

Comrades, if we are honest and fair, we must also say that there are a number of very positive and exciting signs in the economic growth and development of Buffalo City:

• We have been enjoying a property boom that has made all of our house-owners significantly wealthier, from Bunker's Hill to Mdantsane to our inland areas, with the prices of properties more than doubling over the past few years.
• There is unprecedented interest from developers in the retail sector, from the Billion Group's investment in Mdantsane to the strong and healthy competition from major groups to launch Buffalo City's first truly regional shopping center, as well as the commitment of a major supermarket chain to re-establish a presence in King William's Town.
• Our biggest manufacturer is due to begin production of the new C-class Mercedes Benz next year, with job-creation opportunities for component suppliers multiplying after the necessary transitional period during which the plant will gear up for full production.
• We are competing vigorously to be considered as a base camp for a World Cup team in 2010, with all of the excitement and the spinoffs that this would create for the region.
• We are working in close co-operation with the Premier's office to translate the vision of the physical integration of Bisho and King Willaim's Town into a reality, and we are very excited at the recent commitment of the provincial government to establish 40 000 square metres of office space in this precinct.

Comrades, as we strive to build momentum for sustainable economic development and growth, recognizing as we do that there is no magic wand and no quick and easy wins, we want to reiterate our commitment to a non-negotiable principle of the majority party in government: we shall not abandon the poor.

Much as we note the destructive criticism of some of our fellow councillors – most of whom have never been poor – who are of the view that government is concerned only for the enrichment of the elite few, the masses of our people know well that this is a willful distortion of the truth.

Bakho ke bethu nabanxaxhi nalapha phakathi kooCeba, uninzi lwabo ingabantu abangazange bayiva le nto iyintlupheko, abahlalele ukumgxeka urhulumente besithi ukhathalele kuphela ukutyebisa abantu abasele betyebile. Nina ke ningamangqina ethu, niyazi mhlophe ukuba bubuvuvu obo.

The truth in Buffalo City is that our municipal budget is built on a pro-poor approach that seeks to ensure sustainable redistribution of local resources.

Inyaniso yeyokuba, apha e-Buffalo City, uhlahlolwabiwo-mali lwenziwa kujongwe kwiimeko zabantu abahluphekayo, kwaye lulungiselelwa ukwabiwa kwezitya ngendlela eya kuqinisekisa uphuhlso.

We have set a very high benchmark for the registration of indigent households, which presently number more than 42 000 throughout the municipality (excluding 7 000 households on the Eskom database of rural beneficiaries).

This means that well over 140 000 people in Buffalo City are provided with a basic package of free services by the municipality. This basic package includes 6 kilolitres of water every month, 50 kilowatt-hours of electricity, subsidized waste removal as well as no payment of rates on properties valued at less than R20 000.

Oku kuthetha ukuba bangaphezu kwe-140 000 abantu balapha e-Buffalo Cirty ababonelelwa ngezi nkonzo zasimahla zikaMasipala. Ezi nkonzo zibandakanya i-6 kilolitres yamanzi qho ngenyanga, i-50 kilowatts yombane, isaphulelo kumsebenzi wokuthuthwa kwenkunkuma, bengabhatali nepeni emdaka kwii-rates ngemizi yabo exabisa ngaphantsi kwe-R20 000.

The total value of this indigent support is presently more than R100 million per annum. This means that during my five-year term of office, more than R500 million worth of basic services will have been provided free of charge to those who qualify as indigent.

Ixabiso lezi zibonelelo ke lingaphaya kwe-R100 million ngonyaka, into ethetha ukuba kule minyaka mihlanu ndinguSodolophu, siza kukhupha izibonelelo ezixabisa ngaphezu kwe-R500 million sisipha abantu ezilungiselelwe bona.

We have gone further to offer a rebate of 40@ on property rates to our senior citizens under certain conditions, as well as those with physical or mental disability.

Siphinde sabonelela ngesaphulelo se-40@ kwimali yee-rates ehlawulwa ngabantu abadala, ngokunjalo nabo bakhubazekileyo, oko sikwenza phantsi kwemiqathango ethile.

One has only to look at a reconstructed settlement such as Nompumelelo, a new settlement such as Sweetwaters or a greatly-expanded settlement such as Ginsberg to appreciate the massive strides that have been made in providing housing for our people, or to drive from East London to King William's Town at night, seeing our rural settlements lit up, to appreciate the commitment of our government to improve the living conditions of poor communities.

Umntu ofuna ukuqonda angqine amabakala esele siwahambile ukubonelela abantu bethu ngezindlu makakhangele kwiziphaluka ezifana noNompumelelo, iSweetwaters, okanye iGinsberg. Okanye makahambe ngemoto phakathi kweMonti neQonce ebusuku, abone ukuqhakaza kweelali zethu zikhanyise umbane. Onamehlo uya kukungqina ukuzimisela kwethu ekuphuculeni iimeko abaphila phantsi kwazo abantu bethu.

One of our greatest challenges is to find ways to give hope and meaning to our younger generation. In this regard we have developed a Children and Youth Development Strategy to address the specific issues and dynamics prevalent within these age groups.

Omnye wemingeni esojongene nayo kukuzama ukufumana iindlela zokwandisa ithemba kulutsha lwethu, nokuncedisana nalo ekufezeni amadinga alo. UMasipala uqulunqe inkqubo ebizwa ngokuba yi-Children and Youth Development Strategy, nenjongo zayo ikukukhawulelana nalo mngeni.

Plans are already in place for the development of pilot Community Support Centres in Gompo, Mdantsane and King William's Town, with funding assistance from the Swedish International Development Agency. These facilities will house libraries, arts and craft centres, youth advisory desks and HIV/AIDS advisory centres.

Comrades, allow me to say, in conclusion, that the Office of the Executive Mayor, my Mayoral Committee, and the senior management and staff of the municipal administration are all committed to the ongoing transformation and improvement of our service to communities. You are indeed the reason for our existence, and we are here to serve you in a spirit of Batho Pele at a local level.

I have full confidence in the quality of the leadership that you have put in place to support me, both my comrades in the Mayoral Committee, the councillors in general, the ward committee members and not least, the municipal administration, soon to be under the leadership of Mr Gaster Sharpley, who is to join us on 1 November as our new Municipal Manager. These are people who are ready and able to assist in building the better life that we all long for.

We were indeed very proud when the results of a survey of Municipalities conducted by National and Provincial Governments were announced in March this year. Buffalo City was ranked joint first as one of the two best-performing Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province.

Siziva sinelunda ziziphumo zovavanyo looMasipala oluqhutywe ngurhulumente kazwelonke norhulumente wephondo, nezivakaliswe ngoMatshi walo nyaka. Ezo ziphumo ziyibeka phezulu i-Buffalo City kooMasipala abasebenza kakuhle apha kwiMpuma-Koloni.

The survey focused on numerous aspects of municipal management including institutional capacity, legal services, human resource management, financial management, information and communication technology, land use management, technical services and service delivery, housing and other services.

Olu vavanyo belijolise kakhulu kwimiba ethile yolawulo lukaMasipala ngamnye, imiba efana nobuchule bokulawula, iinkonzo zasemthethweni, ulawulo lwezimali, ubugcisa bonxibelelwano, iinkonzo ezingundoqo zoluntu, ukwakhiwa kwezindlu neminye imisebenzi.

Comrades, in view of this positive diagnosis, and knowing the commitment of our staff as I do, I can say with confidence that Buffalo City has succeeded in turning its back on its recent and unfortunate past. We have sounded a decisive "No" to corrupt and self-important city officials who abuse the trust that the Council and the public have placed in them.

We require of our staff a caring and people-centred approach to public service that upholds the right of all citizens, rich or poor, to be treated with dignity and respect.

Sikhuthaza abasebenzi bakaMasipala ukuba balukhathalele uluntu, bawahloniphe amalungelo abantu, bangakhethi phakathi kwabantu abatyebileyo nabahlu-phekayo, bakhonze wonke umntu ngembeko.

We would like to invite all of you to be part of the Imbizo Programme over the next two weeks in your different communities, to engage us directly, to have your say and to lend us your support. Let us as citizens not sit forever in the trenches of negativity and despair, but let us roll up our sleeves, put our collective shoulders to the wheel and see what we can do together to advance the developmental agenda in our own lives and communities.

Comrades, I thank you.

N.C. (Zintle) Peter
EXECUTIVE MAYOR

BUFFALO CITY
METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
A City growing
with you