July was a month that demonstrated the power of collaboration, responsive governance and community partnership in advancing the developmental aspirations of the people of Mogale City. As we concluded Youth Month and commemorated Nelson Mandela International Day, we remained focused on investing in our young people, strengthening service delivery and building safer, more resilient communities.
One of the highlights of the month was hosting the Mogale City Top 10 Matric Achievers 2025 Brunch, where we welcomed back our top-performing learners to celebrate their continued academic journeys. More importantly, the engagement provided an opportunity to assess how they are adjusting to university life and reaffirm our commitment to supporting excellence in education. Their achievements continue to inspire hope and demonstrate the immense potential that exists within our municipality.
Education remained at the centre of our developmental agenda as we joined the Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Lebogang Maile in a community engagement under the theme “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.” The dialogue brought together parents, educators, community leaders and stakeholders to confront the challenges facing our schools while collectively identifying practical interventions to improve teaching, learning and learner support. Building quality education requires active participation from every sector of society.
We also marked another important milestone in expanding opportunities for our communities through the sod-turning ceremony for the Kagiso Outdoor Gym and Multifunctional Sports Court in Ward 19. This exciting project, delivered through the Sports Trust in partnership with the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, with the support of the office of Deputy Minister Peace Mabe, will create much-needed recreational infrastructure that promotes healthy lifestyles, youth development and social cohesion.
As part of our commitment to empowering young people beyond infrastructure, we also encourage eligible youth between the ages of 15 and 24 to apply for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund before the closing date of 4 September 2026. This initiative presents an opportunity for young people to lead innovative environmental projects while contributing meaningfully to climate action within our communities.
The fight against illegal occupation of public assets also gained momentum through #OperationBringBack, where we joined Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala in assessing hijacked government properties. The operation focused on invoking the necessary notices, evaluating affected buildings and exploring collaborative approaches between national and local government to restore these facilities for productive public use and community benefit.
Nelson Mandela International Day once again reminded us that meaningful change begins with service. Together with SALGA Gauteng, we spent the day at Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialisation, repainting classrooms, installing doors and donating sanitary towels and dignity packs to the school. These collective acts of service reaffirmed our commitment to creating safe and dignified learning environments for every child.
To further strengthen the municipality’s ability to deliver on its developmental mandate, we effected a targeted reshuffle within the Mayoral Committee. Councillor Cynthia Mankazana now assumes responsibility for Human Settlements and Real Estate, Councillor Merriam Mogoje leads Infrastructure Development Services (Utilities), and Councillor Peter Modise takes over the Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio. These changes are intended to enhance institutional effectiveness and ensure continued responsiveness to the needs of our residents.
We concluded the month with #OperationThuntshaLerole, a focused by-law enforcement operation aimed at addressing illegal trading, unauthorised trading on road reserves and non-compliance with municipal regulations. While we remain committed to supporting informal economic activity, it must take place within a lawful, safe and orderly environment that protects both traders and the broader public.
As we enter a new month, we remain unwavering in our commitment to building a cleaner, safer and more inclusive Mogale City. Through partnerships, decisive leadership and active community participation, we will continue working together to improve the quality of life for every resident.
Cllr Lucky Godfrey Sele