Last Friday marked the last State of the Province Address by the current administration which will take a back seat just before the fifth general elections take place on May 7.

I marvelled at one thing basically, that the much-purported job-creation issue by president, Mr Jacob Zuma, which had been a centre of criticism by the opposition when he said they would create 6 million jobs, was put into the right perspective by the premier Mr David Mabuza when he admitted failure of achieving the projected numbers.

Mabuza recounted that the envisaged job- creation figures had not been reached in the province and substantiated the reasons.

It was an opportune time for the ANC-led government to beat their chests for what many consider to be a job well done, but at least let the truth be told about shortfalls in certain spheres in which they were tasked with delivery, by the electorate.

I could sense a celebratory mood in the premier’s voice, but at the same time, there was the emotional aspect when he had to bid farewell to the province. It was heartening to hear him thank everyone with whom he had worked throughout his five-year term as premier.

At least he served his full term. Pundits pronounced, from his usurping power back in 2009, that he would never see the light of the day, meaning that he would be recalled by the ANC from the onset.

He was brave from day one as he withstood all the service-delivery protests and to this day, there are still protests, allegedly orchestrated by fellow disgruntled comrades.

He has not been emotionally affected by all the accusations of being an alleged fraudster, corrupt leader and mastermind of the so-called January killings. He has remained steadfast in his duties to deliver what is needed to the people of the province.

What really impressed me, was admitting his shortcomings, rather than boasting about having achieved success, when all was not right. On the whole, yours truly can concur that he has made strides, but needed to speed up processes – he was slow in some but succeeded in others.

Next time – if there is one – speed up everything because a five-year term is not a lifetime, although Rome was not built in a day.