“The Capital City is opened for business!” These were the opening words of the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Councillor Solly Msimanga, at the SAPOA Meet the Mayor Dinner held last night in Tshwane. The Executive Mayor, who was appointed in August last year, engaged with SAPOA Board members, senior executives and captains of industry at the annual SAPOA Meet the Mayor Dinner.
The initiative, which is one SAPOA’s key endeavors to strengthen partnerships, dialogues and collaboration between the commercial property sector and government, was attended by SAPOA President Nomzamo Radebe, SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal, SAPOA board members and representatives from the City of Tshwane among other key government and property stakeholders.
During her welcoming address, Radebe highlighted the importance of such events to an industry body such as SAPOA. “A key issue for us as SAPOA and business is the issue of intergovernmental relations. We acknowledge that mutually beneficial partnerships and a joint working relationship with government is at times fraught with challenges that could be avoided through better understanding. The reality is that we are inseparable and we have to work together,” she said.
She further pointed out that as the urban conversation advances between SAPOA, the property industry at large and government, South African cities would begin to progress and evolve to compete on a global scale. “Cities and how they are governed and managed must be at the heart of the national economic jobs and growth debate if we are to have any hope of reaching in employment target. The ongoing concerns from both the private and public sector surrounding challenges that we both face requires that both parties become more actively involved with each other. We need to engage in meaningful dialogue and work together to improve business and the infrastructure in South Africa.”
Top on the list of priorities for the Executive Mayor is to ensure that the Capital City succeeds by getting the basics right. “Last year, we tried as hard as we could to do the basics right. Running water, electricity, cleanliness and safety have been a top priority for us, whilst trying to rebuild the Capital City to become an attractive destination for investment”.
The Executive Mayor acknowledged that the work that he, together with his MMC team, have done, and the work that still lies further, encouraged SAPOA and captains of industry to partner with the City for growth. “It is important for us, as government, to partner with the industry to ensure that this city is able to generate as much revenue as it possibly can and that we are able to invest into the city to make it what we know that it can be. We are hoping that you will join us in building the Capital City into a world class city. In that, we can ensure that your businesses will endure and grow, because that will be the only way that we will be able to succeed as partners going forward”.
The SAPOA Meet the Mayor Dinner was sponsored by GladAfrica Group.
