Reflecting on our first year in office 

It was around this time last year that the election results had been confirmed and a new administration prepared to get to work in the City. Indeed, as I prepare for the tabling of the budget for 2012/2013, I am reminded of the similar frenzy we underwent last year in something of a baptism of fire.

I always say that we came in with a plan based on five pillars: the opportunity city; the safe city; the caring city; the inclusive city; and the well-run city. We were determined to implement and I believe that we are succeeding.

But implementation is not only the responsibility of the politicians, who are the drivers of the process. Primarily, it is the responsibility of officials, those public servants who have dedicated their lives to working for this City.

And in as much as the political leadership has been new, we have also welcomed some new faces into the senior management team of the City to help us take this organisation, and the city as a whole, to the next level of government.

To all of the members of staff, all the officials, old and new, to all the members of our team, I say: Thank you. Thank you for all of your hard work throughout the past year, all the dedication and sacrifice that is helping Cape Town reach its full potential.

There are so many people who deserve to be thanked by name. But allow me to confine myself here to the City Manager, Achmat Ebrahim and his Deputy, Mike Marsden.

The City of Cape Town is privileged to have two of the finest civil servants in the country at the helm and it is an honour to work with you.

But let us not forget our colleagues in the Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

I believe that we have created a new dynamic of inter-governmental cooperation in the past year, one where the local and provincial spheres have been working towards delivering on consolidated strategies, according to common targets, for universal outcomes.

There is still much work to be done in bringing these two spheres of government together in closer alignment but we are well on our way, with exciting possibilities unlocked for the people of this city and this province as a result.

Let me thus thank the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, and the Director-General, Adv. Brent Gerber and their team for all of their invaluable support, advice and cooperation. I believe that our relationship shall only grow stronger with time.

There are never any breaks in government, never any periods where one pauses. The business of delivery is constant. But that does not mean we cannot take stock of how much we have done every now and then.

Once again, to all staff, thank you, baie dankie, enkosi. 
 

25 May 2012

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