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The African National Congress congratulates Comrade Parks Tau on his election as the President of the United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) organisation, an umbrella body for Local Government in the World, yesterday, 15 October 2016, in Colombia.

Comrade Parks Tau's election to the Presidency of the body, comprising of over 1000 leading cities and almost all local government associations in the World, comes as no surprise to the ANC, because the current Chairperson of the ANC in Johannesburg Region, possesses the necessary experience, expertise and commitment to deliver on what is expected of him and the body, as he has done so before.

It was under the leadership Comrade Parks Tau and his collective that the City of Johannesburg successfully launched the Jozi@Work programme, the most ambitious youth empowerment programme, dismantling the barriers to decent jobs. It was under their tenure at the helm that the Global Financial Centres Index ranked Johannesburg as the most economically powerful city in Africa and amongst the leading 40 in the World. It was under his leadership that Fitch, one of the world's most respected ratings agencies, accorded the City of Johannesburg the status of being South Africa's number one metro when it comes to financial management.

To us, this election shows the extent to which the world has confidence in the leadership produced by the ANC, the people of South Africa and the African content at large. We will never take for granted such confidence bestowed upon us.

To Comrade Parks Tau, we congratulate you and trust that, as you have done it before by successfully leading the City of Johannesburg to a World Class City, you will do the same with the state of local government in the World. Indeed, with Comrade Parks Tau at the helm, the future of local government looks bright.

Issued by ANC