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THE STATE OF THE MUNICIPALITY ADDRESS (SOMA) OF HER WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF THE
FETAKGOMO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY CLLR. RAESETSE ELIZABETH SEFALA, DELIVERED ON THE
31ST MARCH 2011, MUNICIPAL COUNCIL CHAMBER, 15H30

Madam Speaker;
Members of the Executive Committee and Councilors;
Traditional leaders;
Business Leaders;
Political Parties;
Representatives and leaders of Civil Society, Youth, Women and People with Disability
The Senior Officials;
Members of the broader public
We are meeting here today hardly nine days after the celebrations of the national Human Rights
Day. The 21st March is celebrated as a human rights day and should not be taken for granted. Almost everyone remembers the massacre of our people on the 21st March 1960 who marched
peacefully to local police stations throughout the country to free African men from carrying According to Chief Albert Luthuli, “The liberation struggle was on in earnest”. People were in
cheerful, non-violent revolutionary mood when they were shot dead, mostly shot at the back. Bodies lied dead on the road and pavements. The total toll was 69 recorded dead and 180 had
bullet wounds. The Apartheid Government perpetrated such a brutal pain and humiliation on a
voteless and defenseless people.
Events in Sharpeville Massacre or the Year 1960 could be described as a year of destiny for
many and at the sametime an indicator of strong liberation struggle.
News of Sharpeville Massacre and other murderous killings perpetuated by the Apartheid was received with horror in SA and abroad. The words of the founding President of a democratic and
free South Africa, His Excellency, Nelson Mandela calculated that:
“By the middle of June 1960, figures of killings had risen to well over 300 killed and 500
wounded people”.
For many years our people including in our Sekhukhune area have been sacrificed and subjected to vicious attacks by the Apartheid regime. Mandela, for example, remembers that:
“In 1957, there were considerable mass unrests and disturbances in the country, Districts of
Zeerust, Sekhukhuneland and Rustenburg… in all these areas, there were revolts against the
pass laws…”.
The Nationalist Party Government used its legal powers to launch a full-scale attack on our people. Unlike theirs, ours is to launch full-scale commitment to Build Better Communities.
SEKHUKHUNE UPRINGS: 1958
The wars of resistance across the length and breadth of our country as well towed Sekhukhune. However, as a people we fought to ensure the protection of our land in order to attain the wealth of our region and indigenous place of birth. The people rallied around moral, social, political and economic values. In fighting the illegitimate, inhuman and discriminatory system of apartheid, there was a collaboration between Fetakgomo and Mathuduthamaga as spears for necessities against the white domination. Fetakgomo originates from the Feta kgomo ke moriri wa hloga: It’s for this cause and reason that today our municipality named after the glorious This State of the Municipality Address provides an opportunity to share thoughts and progress in regard of overall municipal governance. In general terms, we have worked harder to achieve numerous targets as set in our six critical GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE ACHIEVEMNETS OF THE ANC-LED FETAKGOMO MUNICIPALITY
From both corporate and financial governance viewpoints, independent, objective professional opinion indicates that we are doing exceptionally well. For example, a trend analysis of the Auditor-General’s opinion over the years reveals that our performance graph is on the rise. Unqualified with emphasis Unqualified with emphasis Clean opinion of matter A comparative study in other municipalities shows that Fetakgomo is the only Municipality in the Limpopo Province and one of the four Municipalities in the Country, RSA that got a clean
audit opinion.
A recent Community Satisfaction Survey released on January 2011, administered by the Department of Local Government and Housing found that the Fetakgomo Municipality is doing electricity provision; public participation; and caring for orphans. The Survey warns the Municipality to: stop delays in the delivery of services; and extend services to all other wards than focusing on the neighbouring wards. The following key improvement recommendations are suggested by those who were surveyed: work together; work hard; give tenders to capable people; and improve sanitary conditions at the Bopedi Complex. As the Municipality we accept these recommendations as the basis for the customer care strategy. The overall findings of the survey help us to assess the extent of the customer satisfaction with service delivery and to identify the areas where the community required A Synopsis on Basic Services Delivery and Infrastructural Development
There is strong, conclusive empirical evidence indicating that we have eradicated grid electricity backlogs in Fetakgomo with Shubushubung as the final village currently being electrified. We
will therefore meet the 2012 electricity target. Today, +/- 80% (22 727 out of 28 409) of the
households have been electrified.
Moreover, the following villages will benefit from post-connection electrification in the 2011/12 Closely tied to this, is that the Fetakgomo Municipality is currently providing indigent support to about 2 500 households who are beneficiaries of Free Basic Electricity.
All schools and clinics have been electrified. We will engage ESKOM to ensure that one block at Nyaku Secondary School switches on and that the Tlakale Primary School converts from a conventional to a prepaid electricity system as per school’s request. We are awaiting the three additional transformers so as to strengthen the capacity of the
existing ones in order to make the Street Lights fully functional. The project (street light)
entailed installation of 9.5km street lights and was constructed at the cost of about R2 million.
Further to this, the 15 High Mast Lights that have been erected at Pelangwe, Seokodibeng,
Mohlaletse Community Halls, Fetakgomo Atok Thusong Service Centre, Ga-Oria/Radimmela T- Junction, Apel/Mapodi, Phashamakgalanoto, Mosotse, Ga-Selepe, Mmakopa, Mphanama, Ga- Matlala (x2) and Mohlaletse (x2) are expected to switch-on soon, in not later than two months.
A Synopsis on Health
We are engaging the Department of Health at national level and other role players with a view of securing the conversion of Nchabeleng Health Centre into a Hospital. This will reduce
distance and traveling costs by our people to Lebowakgomo (68 km from Ga-Nchabeleng Health
Centre), Mecklenburg (59 km) and Jane Furse (73 km). The Jane Furse Hospital is speculated to
be populated by people mostly from Fetakgomo. Generally, about 05 fixed clinics are needed for Ward 09 (Malogeng), Ward 13 (Mooilyk), Ward
11 (Ledingwe and Seokodibeng) and Ward 07 (Ga-Matlala/Mashabela to address the existing
It is recognized that access to health facilities is one of the critical population priorities.
A Synopsis on Housing
Whereas there is a recorded material progress of 3184 RDP houses having been built in
Fetakgomo since 2001, our task is unfinished because this progress co-exists with incomplete and poorly constructed RDP houses. We urge all those who are affected in this regard to report these anomalies to their respective ward councillors. Only two wards, 06 and 07 will benefit from the RDP housing allocations in the 2011/12 financial
year with 50 and 125 allocations respectively.
A Synopsis on Road and Bridges
Progress in respect of the roads under construction in the 2009/10 financial year is as follows: The learners drivers’ license function has been devolved to the Fetakgomo Municipality. We are now performing this function at Grade E. Traveling long distances inquest for these services is a thing of the past. In addition, the pedestrian walkways has been constructed and another one connecting the Health Centre is being constructed. A Synopsis on Refuse Removal
Our refuse removal project has reached 9000 households as at the 1st of February 2011 through
the Food For Waste Project. We intend to secure funds so as to sustain and expand this service to other households or areas. Malogeng Waste Disposal (Landfill site) was completed and However, challenges relate to lack of appropriate equipments for maintenance and lack of weighing bridge for people who want to transport waste on their own to the landfill site. A Synopsis on Other Infrastructural Investment
Four (4) cemeteries, Mphanama, Ga-Selepe, Shubushubung and Mokgotho cemeteries were
fenced. The Municipality plans to work towards ensuring that sanitary facilities in these
cemeteries are set up as a further affirmation of human dignity.
We reiterate our commitment to ensure that the Strydkraal Community Hall and Mohlaletse Thusong Service Centre will be set up as multi-year projects from 2011 July to June 2013. It is a commendable report that the construction of the Library is complete and only awaiting
equipments such as furniture, study material etc. Tourism Centre is under construction and there is a steady progress in this regard.
From the above, it is quite evident that many changes have indeed happened - but much more MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE
In the present situation, our Municipality is pursuing Township Development on the Farm Hoeraroep. Already a Development Facilitation Act approval for the Fetakgomo Municipality has been granted for portion 2 of the Farm. We will work hard to ensure that the area earmarked for Township is fully serviced (i.e sewage, water, electricity etc). As part of this process, the Fetakgomo Sports Complex is being constructed to promote entertainment and recreational
activities. Also to be done is Apel Recreational Park.
We believe that the establishment of malls within the Municipality will boost the local economy.
We will work hard to ensure the investment of the private sector in Fetakgomo including the mining sector which is the key driver of our municipal economy. On the 23rd March 2011, a few
councillors as well as officials together with the Bokoni Platinum Mine were dispatched to undertake a learning visit at the Phalaborwa Foundation, a development arm of Phalaborwa Mining Company. It is hoped that the undertaken visit will yield fruitful and meaningful results. Education
The success of any nation is embedded in its youth, As a municipality we take pride in the cordial relations with the Apel Circuit and the academic objectives and professionalism they start up to. There are schools which performed far above, far excellence, and history so confirms the status. We congratulate them e.g. Dinakanyane School which obtained 100% matric pass rate by 2010 and Moloke Combined School 90, 48% matric pass rate by 2010. However the challenge remains poor performing schools and how do we improve their performance to at DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES
From the above, the following can be deduced as key development priorities and objectives of the Municipality going into the next five years: FTM’S Development Priorities and Objectives Over the Next Five Years (2011/12-2015/16):
Priority Area
Development Objectives
To facilitate for basic services delivery and infrastructural development / investment To promote health status of the population To promote integrated human settlement and agrarian reform To ensure community safety & security To improve provision of Home Affairs Offices To strengthen cell phone reception & effective communication To promote local economic development within Fetakgomo To enhance good governance and public participation These should bring to live our proposed, refined municipal Vision 2050, which is: “A viable
municipality in sustainable rural development”.
The deliverables enumerated above and the vision set out proves that it is a fallacy that the
performance of the DA-led municipalities exceeds the ANC-led municipalities. Very recently, during this month, a Western Cape member of Parliament, Freddie Adams pointed out shocking practices inherent in the DA-led municipalities. In a number of court battles, the DA was found to be in breach of the Constitution and the principles embedded in The Cape High Court found the Western Cape Provincial Government’s interference in the Overberg District Municipality by Premier Zille unconstitutional;
A school girl was kicked out of a Stellenbosch School because they did not like her photo on Facebook, and Zille’s Education MEC agreed with that! When it looked bleak in the High Court, they quickly settled the matter; Zille fired 13 provincial officials of the Social Transformation Programme and the CCMA found that it was done unlawfully and unconstitutionally.
This is a strong indicator that the DA pays lip service to human rights. We should be careful of
not permitting the repetition of our racist, brutal and repressive past. While the above occur under the so-called the rule of DA, Fetakgomo which under the rule of
the ANC is the Municipality in which human rights are embraced and taken seriously. We do so
because we are great believers and subscribers of the Freedom Charter, one of the key visionary
and human rights-based documents in the archives of our struggle and the country’s history. Those who pay lip service to human rights have been and will continue to be exposed by the
Courts and vital institutions that have been established to protect the human rights and • The South African Human Rights Commission; • The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural Religious and In Fetakgomo we are leaving in a Municipality where people are active participants, active agents of change in municipal governance as required by Section 152 of the Constitution, read
jointly with Chapter four of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (no.32 of 2000). In this regard, we pay tribute to all those who lost their lives so that we can be where we are today, including those whose lives were sacrificed here at home, Sekhukhuneland, Sharpeville, Langa, Upington, Matola, Cradock, Soweto, Boipatong, in exile and elsewhere. I want to recall Chief Albert Luthuli, in his Presidential Address to the 47th Annual Conference
stating that: “Freedom will surely come if everybody does his duty”.
In the same vein, I want to say that prosperity will surely come if everybody does his duty – that is if everybody increases the threshold of his participation in community development, if
everybody votes and votes correctly.
Elections
Ever since 2000 the local municipalities became a reality through the first elections and ultimately the spheres of government. In at least a month and a few days, elections are to be held and a million question is were we able to accomplish a mission for which the fetakgomo electorate voted us for. As we approach the era: rational vision should lead and pave a way for a positive ground. The electorate should be held in high esteem all the time not only, because of power be possess. Let’s drive educative voter education on as a source of voter’s Census 2011
The RSA has embarked on the programme to educate people about census 2011. We add everybody to participate in census 2011 by being counted and provide accurate demographic information as and when requested by enumerators. In the final analysis, key to service delivery remains how best do we come to realization of a better life for all. Vote in the local government elections on the 18th May 2011.
“Together we can build better communities”
I thank you!

Source: http://www.fetakgomo.gov.za/docs/speech/speech.pdf