There are moments in history that belong not only to those who lived them, but to every generation that follows. June is one such moment.
This year, South Africa commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the June 16 Uprising, half a century since young people, armed with conviction, courage and an unshakable belief in justice, altered the course of our nation’s history. They marched not because the future was certain, but because they believed it could be transformed.
Fifty years later, our responsibility is no longer simply to remember their sacrifice. It is to honour it through action. The question before us is therefore simple; what does freedom look like for a young person in Mogale City today? Our answer must be measured by opportunity.
It is for this reason that one of the defining moments of this Youth Month was the inaugural Mayor’s Festival of Opportunities, a first for our municipality and a bold statement of intent. The festival brought together government, higher education institutions, the private sector, state entities, entrepreneurs and development partners under one roof with a common purpose which is to place opportunities within the reach of young people.
From employment and skills development to entrepreneurship, innovation, bursaries, career guidance and access to government services, the Festival of Opportunities represented a practical demonstration that commemorating June 16 must extend beyond ceremonies. The greatest tribute we can pay to the generation of 1976 is to ensure that today’s generation has access to the opportunities they fought to make possible.
Innovation also took centre stage through the e-Gov All-Night Hackathon and Tech Expo, where young innovators demonstrated how technology can solve real challenges facing local government and our communities. Their creativity reaffirmed that the future of governance will increasingly be shaped by young people prepared to innovate, collaborate and lead.
Our commitment to youth empowerment extends beyond Mogale City. As the Chairperson of the SALGA National Youth Commission, we have led important national discussions on the growing disengagement of young people from democratic participation ahead of the forthcoming Local Government Elections. Democracy cannot thrive if its youngest citizens feel disconnected from it. Our task is to rebuild trust, expand participation and ensure that young people see local government as a vehicle for change rather than an observer of it.
This month also marked a deeply significant milestone as we handed over homes to beneficiaries of the Dr Sefularo Housing Development. Behind every set of keys is a family whose future has been fundamentally changed. For many beneficiaries who have lived for generations without secure land tenure, these homes represent far more than shelter. They represent dignity restored, ownership secured and an opportunity to build generational wealth that can be passed from one generation to the next. In restoring land and housing security, we restore hope itself. June also reminded us that government is tested not only by the milestones it celebrates, but by the hardships it is called upon to confront. The displacement of families in Honingklip presented one of those defining moments. Faced with vulnerable residents who found themselves without shelter, the municipality acted swiftly alongside our provincial and national counterparts to coordinate humanitarian relief, secure temporary accommodation and chart a pathway towards sustainable housing solutions. Our intervention was guided the enduring principles of our Constitution, that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion and humanity, particularly in times of crisis.
While investing in people, we continue investing in our communities. Phase Four (4) of the High Impact Service Delivery Programme continues across Kagiso, Chief Mogale and surrounding extensions, ensuring that municipal services reach residents where they live. Responsive local government is not measured by the promises it makes, but by the visible improvements experienced by the communities it serves.
Our pursuit of excellence has once again been recognised nationally. At the 2024/25 SALGA Municipal Audit Awards, Mogale City was honoured as the national winner in Environment, Waste Management and Climate Change, received the winner’s award for Improved Records and Document Management following a 20% improvement, and achieved First Runner-Up for Grants for Service Delivery with an outstanding expenditure performance of 99.49%. These achievements demonstrate that sound governance, financial discipline and administrative excellence remain the cornerstones of sustainable service delivery.
This month also reminded us of the remarkable strength that exists within our communities.
Following the unexpected collapse of the Kagiso Methodist Church of South Africa earlier this year, residents chose hope over despair. It was a privilege to join hundreds of community members during the fundraising fun walk in support of rebuilding this historic place of worship. The event demonstrated that when communities unite behind a common cause, they become stronger than the challenges they face. We therefore renew our call to the private sector, business leaders, philanthropic organisations and every resident who can contribute towards restoring this treasured community institution. Together, we can ensure that the doors of the Kagiso Methodist Church open once again to serve future generations.
As you read this edition of Dikgang tsa Mogale, we invite you to see more than a record of municipal programmes. These pages tell the story of a municipality determined to convert the ideals of our democracy into practical outcomes for its people.
Our generation carries the responsibility to turn those dreams into opportunities, those opportunities into livelihoods and those livelihoods into lasting prosperity.
Cllr Lucky Godfrey Sele