August holds profound historical and political significance as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the historic Women’s March of 1956. We honour the courage and resilience of the women who stood at the forefront of the struggle for freedom, equality and justice. Their legacy continues to inspire us to build a democratic society where the dignity and aspirations of all our people are advanced.
As a municipality, we remain committed to strengthening responsive, accountable and developmental local government, with communities at the centre of our governance agenda.
During the month, the municipality welcomed the oversight visit by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Penny Majodina, and Deputy Minister Mr David Mahlobo, to the Percy Steward Wastewater Treatment Works. The visit provided an important opportunity to assess progress on the refurbishment of this critical facility, funded through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). The progress was welcomed, while emphasis was placed on the need for strong maintenance regimes and the collective responsibility of government and communities to protect critical public infrastructure. Sustainable infrastructure requires not only investment, but also responsible management, maintenance and community ownership.
Our commitment to bringing government closer to our communities continues through the rollout of the High Impact Service Delivery Programme, which moves into Kagiso Extensions 12,13 and Mindalore. This initiative demonstrates our resolve to respond directly to the needs of residents, address service delivery challenges and ensure that municipal interventions have a meaningful impact where people live.
The municipality is also playing its part in shaping the national conversation on infrastructure-led development. I was honoured to participate as a panellist at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2026, contributing to discussions on the role of municipal infrastructure in driving inclusive economic growth.
We must recognise that sustainable municipal infrastructure is fundamental to economic development, investment, job creation and improved quality of life. Our infrastructure investments must therefore advance both service delivery and economic inclusion.
We are also pleased to announce that the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund application period has been extended to 20 September. Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and apply to be part of this impactful initiative. This is an opportunity for young people to bring forward innovative ideas, participate in climate action and contribute to building more resilient and sustainable communities. We encourage our youth to make their voices heard and play an active role in shaping the future of our municipality.
As we reflect on the sacrifices of generations before us, we remain determined to build on the gains of our democracy and accelerate meaningful development for our communities.
Together, we remain committed to building a capable, responsive and developmental municipality that puts our people first.
Cllr Lucky Godfrey Sele