Last Thursday marked the final Msukaligwa municipal council meeting where members exchanged pleasant words and gratitude, goodwill as well as good wishes.
Council speaker Mr B.M. Buthelezi said Councillors were nearly at the end of their five years’ term of office and he had grown during their time together.
“If friendship makes a man rich, then I am rich indeed. I appreciate that you have acted diligently for the past five years, although other members are no longer with us. We still have the responsibility until the elections and we will remain as leaders in our community. Now it’s time to hand over the baton, but the struggle continues,” said Mr Buthelezi.
Acting Executive Mayor Ms M. Nkosi said the day had come.
“In the past five years we have worked together as brothers and sisters. As executive council, we have learnt a lot from councillors and you have made us grow.Honourable Speaker, we thank you for how you have handled all council sittings and we would also like to thank the opposition for working together. We had a good time together and we wish you all the best,” concluded Ms Nkosi.
Council Chief Whip Ms N. Mashinini directed her words of gratitude to the Speaker and said in all the five years she had never seen him angry with anyone.
“Speakers have come and gone, and it was the first time I have worked with someone of your calibre. May the good Lord bless you in whatever your new role is,” concluded Ms Mashinini.
Speaking for the opposition, Mr H. Swart of the DA thanked everyone for working together for the entire five years. He said it was the community that would measure if council had succeeded or not.
“To the Executive Mayor, we thank you for your approach in the last five years. You opened your door for active participation in all activities in an effective manner and you were available every time we needed you. Mr Speaker, you were the best chairman in terms of handling all council sittings and we thank you for your professionalism,” Mr Swart said.
He also shared a message to incoming councilors that they should not ask what the municipality can do for them, but what they can do to improve the municipality.
Mr J. Blignaut also took a moment to congratulate the Speaker on the dignified manner in which he conducted council meetings.
“I hope and pray that the following Speaker will handle these meetings in the same manner,”said Mr Blignaut.
Mr M. Mathebula thanked his former educator, Ms Madini.“I want to thank my educator who contributed a lot in my life. I never thought that one day I would work with my educator,”said Mr Mathebula from the opposition party.
Municipal Manager Mr Zwelihle Shongwe also reflected on the five years. He said they experienced challenges, but tried to solve them together, although it was not easy.
“The relationship we’ve built doesn’t have to end now. We still need to engage each other in trying to come up with solutions. As leaders, the community will always contact you and we need to continue the struggle to improve the municipality.”
