Word of thanks to the council: It is a privilege and an honour for me to stand here before you all today as the junior executive mayor for the term of office 2018/2019. The mayoral position was a position I accepted with open arms and vowed to give my full dedication in order for this council to succeed. I wish to thank you all for the connectedness through we worked together and overcame many obstacles. Like-one big family, we have been so infused, intertwined and intermingled into each like brothers and sisters. The spirit for which I am grateful and wish to see continue in the new council.
Message to the new council: To the new council, I have the following message: It is not easy. Being a councillor is not easy, in the sense that one has to equip oneself with skills that will make it possible for the council to function optimally. These include speaking skills and management to quote but few. As an organisation, we have to uphold our mandate, which is to have an impact in the community and lead the youth in the right direction. We have to touch people's lives through our selflessness and a burning desire to make a difference. Welkom itself is faced with a problem of substance abuse by teenagers, and as if that was not enough, this is being done in school uniform.
Change: Ladies and gentlemen, it is no secret that we are the catalysts and agents of change in our communities and in our own small way we influence others by what we say, what we do and how we conduct ourselves, hence I challenged each and everyone of us for selflessness, commitment and the passion to serve. The very same way the world's icon and my role model, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged each and everyone of us to serve mankind in whatever way possible. This is evident in his words about serving mankind when he said and I quote:
"Everybody can be great, because anyone can serve.
You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve.
You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.
You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve.
You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love."
Just as one needs and iron to sharpen another iron, humans exchange wisdom through interaction and sharing of ideas. We need to learn from each others' expertise through sharing of ideas, working together and observing others in action.
Closing: In the final analysis, I wish to once again welcome you all info the council and wish you all the best of luck. Thank you.
Closing: In the final analysis, I wish to once again welcome you all info the council and wish you all the best of luck. Thank you.
Kgosana Moeketsi
Junior executive mayor for the term of office 2018/2019