Mayor takes up ministerial post

POLOKWANE – Shortly after the announcement of her new parliamentary position Nkadimeng told Polokwane Observer that she is humbled by the trust that the President has shown in her and she is leaving the city with mixed feelings, filled with gratitude towards the residents and colleagues for the profound experience that she had to learn from them. “I knew nothing about local government when I came into office seven years ago, but I was immediately embraced and accepted by all and truly believe that I am leaving a stable municipality behind, on administrative as well as financial level,” Nkadimeng said.

After succeeding Freddy Greaver as political leader of the municipality in 2014, Nkadimeng not only served the city, but was first elected as chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in Limpopo and thereafter as deputy president of Salga National. She served as president of the organisation where she represented Salga as well as the city’s interests at various forums, which included extended cabinet meetings dealing with local government matters at national level.

Nkadimeng said that her term in office was filled with highlights and that when challenges arose, it gave her an opportunity to turn it around to the benefit of the residents of the city. Some of the highlights include the establishment of the city’s rapid transport system, Leeto la Polokwane and the development of residential facilities such as Polokwane Extension 78. “We have taken families living under severe circumstances from a landfill site and finally relocated them to a much higher standard of accommodation and basic services. The development of a roads master plan was a milestone and the more than R440 million project to replace the city’s asbestos cement water reticulation system with durable UPVC pipes has also contributed to provide water to households without the regular burst pipes that had been a daily hazard.”

To the residents of the city, Nkadimeng had a message of hope. “Polokwane belongs to everybody and as long as the reason behind a decision makes sense, all will go well.” She thanked residents for their kindness and for accepting her. To the employees of the municipality, Nkadimeng said that she proudly walks out of office knowing that when she came in July 2014, she was welcomed with warm hands. People embraced her and she often tells people that her first encounter of local government was her coming to work at Polokwane Municipality.

“All that I know today I was taught by you. I take this opportunity to say thank you for these lessons. The greatest scholars say the greatest measure of success is the impact you make in other people’s lives. I must emphasise that this impact must be a positive impact. In the process, I have won some battles and I have lost some. We had good fights and all of them were in the spirit of providing services and improving the conditions and the lives of all the people of Polokwane. I may have made you angry or disappointed you in some of the decisions that I have made, but now it’s time for all of us to let go of all of those because I carry with me all the beautiful memories that we shared. I say to all of you sincerely; thank you for working with me. Thank you for being the wind behind my wings. Thank you for making me reach the heights that I have reached,” were her parting words.