Date: 26/04/04
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: M Shilowa: Acceptance speech of his election as the Premier of Gauteng
Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Judge Ngoepe
Honourable members
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The people of Gauteng
Let me at the outset thank Judge Ngoepe for convening our third democratically elected legislature and for presiding over the swearing in of members and election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. You have once more confirmed that ours is a constitutional democracy based on the supremacy of the constitution.
Congratulations to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker on your election. I have no doubt that, just like your predecessors, you will carry out your duties without fear or favour and with integrity.
We look to you to continue to nurture this house's ability to debate all issues and to work together with the government to meet the challenges of unemployment and poverty, homelessness and the provision of water and sanitation, HIV and AIDS and other diseases, nation building, community safety, improving public education, and eradication of all forms of discrimination.
Thank you to members of the house for electing me to once more lead the government of our prosperous province. I also wish to thank the leadership of the ANC for once again showing confidence in me by entrusting me with the responsibility to lead Gauteng.
I am aware of the immense responsibilities that come with occupation of this, the highest office in our province. I will not betray the trust that you have placed in me.
During the past few months all the parties represented in this house went to the people to seek a mandate to govern the country and the province. We all placed our plans before the people and asked them to vote for us.
As the ANC we asked the people whether they wanted South Africa to continue along the path that was chosen in 1994. We asked whether the process that we started ten years ago to build a South Africa free of any form of discrimination should continue. We asked whether we should continue implementing the policies to improve the lives of the poor.
The answers to all these questions were in the affirmative. The people chose the ANC to govern the country and all the nine provinces. They did so because they were convinced that the plans that the ANC had presented, which are all clearly articulated in its election manifesto, were most appropriate to take the country forward.
Most importantly, the people agreed to work with the ANC in a people's contract to tackle all the challenges still facing us and advance further towards building a better South Africa for all.
We are humbled by this overwhelming support. I wish to thank all the people of our province for their continued confidence in the ANC.
We have heard what the people said. We will not disappoint them. We will work with them to implement all the plans that are outlined in the ANC manifesto in the best interest of all the people of Gauteng. At the same time, I wish to make it clear that it can not be business as usual. The people expect us to radically improve their situation without fail. There is no room for complacency.
As we have said before and repeated during the election campaign, the ANC is willing to work with all political parties that are committed to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
In this legislature we will work together with all the parties that are prepared to join the people's contract to create work and fight poverty.
It is important that all of us who constitute the Gauteng Legislature should give ourselves some time to study the ANC's election manifesto and understand what this people's contract is and what it requires us to do.
Even those who do not wish to be part of the people's contract will still need to familiarise themselves with the content of the contract since it is on this contract that our government will be judged. This will enable you to work with us as we implement our mandate and to hold the government accountable.
To members of the ANC I have the following words for you. Just as we did during the election campaign, let us go back to our people at all times to indicate to them what we are doing to improve their lives in line with the will of the majority. Where there are difficulties, let us explain to our people what those are and what we are doing to overcome such obstacles.
On Thursday I will stand before the people of Gauteng to take my oath as the Premier of Gauteng. Thereafter I will appoint members of the executive council who will form the team that will drive the work of the Gauteng Provincial Government.
The Gauteng Provincial Government will continue to respect the role of the legislature. We will accept constructive criticism from the legislature and where reasonable suggestions and recommendations are made that will help us improve on our work we will gladly consider them. We will however not entertain any suggestions that are based on policies that have been rejected by the electorate.
Democracy dictates that we implement with speed policy proposals endorsed by the electorate. I call on all members of the legislature to respect this dictum even as you disagree with our policies. This is the essence of democracy.
Together with the new MEC's to be announced on Thursday 29 April 2004, we will continue to work closely with the people of Gauteng. We will continue to communicate regularly with them and provide information that will help them to fully participate in government programmes.
We will also continue to work closely, as we have done in the past decade, with all the various groups including trade unions, faith based communities, business, professional organisations, and organisations of women, youth and people with disabilities.
Together we will overcome all the challenges that stand before us and make Gauteng a much better place in which to live.
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: M Shilowa: Acceptance speech of his election as the Premier of Gauteng
Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Judge Ngoepe
Honourable members
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The people of Gauteng
Let me at the outset thank Judge Ngoepe for convening our third democratically elected legislature and for presiding over the swearing in of members and election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. You have once more confirmed that ours is a constitutional democracy based on the supremacy of the constitution.
Congratulations to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker on your election. I have no doubt that, just like your predecessors, you will carry out your duties without fear or favour and with integrity.
We look to you to continue to nurture this house's ability to debate all issues and to work together with the government to meet the challenges of unemployment and poverty, homelessness and the provision of water and sanitation, HIV and AIDS and other diseases, nation building, community safety, improving public education, and eradication of all forms of discrimination.
Thank you to members of the house for electing me to once more lead the government of our prosperous province. I also wish to thank the leadership of the ANC for once again showing confidence in me by entrusting me with the responsibility to lead Gauteng.
I am aware of the immense responsibilities that come with occupation of this, the highest office in our province. I will not betray the trust that you have placed in me.
During the past few months all the parties represented in this house went to the people to seek a mandate to govern the country and the province. We all placed our plans before the people and asked them to vote for us.
As the ANC we asked the people whether they wanted South Africa to continue along the path that was chosen in 1994. We asked whether the process that we started ten years ago to build a South Africa free of any form of discrimination should continue. We asked whether we should continue implementing the policies to improve the lives of the poor.
The answers to all these questions were in the affirmative. The people chose the ANC to govern the country and all the nine provinces. They did so because they were convinced that the plans that the ANC had presented, which are all clearly articulated in its election manifesto, were most appropriate to take the country forward.
Most importantly, the people agreed to work with the ANC in a people's contract to tackle all the challenges still facing us and advance further towards building a better South Africa for all.
We are humbled by this overwhelming support. I wish to thank all the people of our province for their continued confidence in the ANC.
We have heard what the people said. We will not disappoint them. We will work with them to implement all the plans that are outlined in the ANC manifesto in the best interest of all the people of Gauteng. At the same time, I wish to make it clear that it can not be business as usual. The people expect us to radically improve their situation without fail. There is no room for complacency.
As we have said before and repeated during the election campaign, the ANC is willing to work with all political parties that are committed to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
In this legislature we will work together with all the parties that are prepared to join the people's contract to create work and fight poverty.
It is important that all of us who constitute the Gauteng Legislature should give ourselves some time to study the ANC's election manifesto and understand what this people's contract is and what it requires us to do.
Even those who do not wish to be part of the people's contract will still need to familiarise themselves with the content of the contract since it is on this contract that our government will be judged. This will enable you to work with us as we implement our mandate and to hold the government accountable.
To members of the ANC I have the following words for you. Just as we did during the election campaign, let us go back to our people at all times to indicate to them what we are doing to improve their lives in line with the will of the majority. Where there are difficulties, let us explain to our people what those are and what we are doing to overcome such obstacles.
On Thursday I will stand before the people of Gauteng to take my oath as the Premier of Gauteng. Thereafter I will appoint members of the executive council who will form the team that will drive the work of the Gauteng Provincial Government.
The Gauteng Provincial Government will continue to respect the role of the legislature. We will accept constructive criticism from the legislature and where reasonable suggestions and recommendations are made that will help us improve on our work we will gladly consider them. We will however not entertain any suggestions that are based on policies that have been rejected by the electorate.
Democracy dictates that we implement with speed policy proposals endorsed by the electorate. I call on all members of the legislature to respect this dictum even as you disagree with our policies. This is the essence of democracy.
Together with the new MEC's to be announced on Thursday 29 April 2004, we will continue to work closely with the people of Gauteng. We will continue to communicate regularly with them and provide information that will help them to fully participate in government programmes.
We will also continue to work closely, as we have done in the past decade, with all the various groups including trade unions, faith based communities, business, professional organisations, and organisations of women, youth and people with disabilities.
Together we will overcome all the challenges that stand before us and make Gauteng a much better place in which to live.
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