January 27, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini and Lucky Sindane
THE clouds couldn't put a dampener on the sense of anticipation outside the Braamfontein Metro Centre, where mayoral committee members, dignitaries and hundreds of community members waited eagerly for the appearance of Johannesburg's mayor, Councillor Amos Masondo.
Dressed in their finery - bright colours against the grey sky - the crowd braved the chilly and windy weather, waiting for the official opening of Council and the annual State of the City speech by the mayor on Thursday, 27 January.
Seated in a 90-year-old Oldsmobile, Mayor Amos Masondo and his wife Khosi on their way through Braamfontein
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
This traditional event is when the City of Johannesburg "takes stock and reflects on the past, considers the present and looks at the year ahead".
Three large tents adorned the piazza outside the Metro Centre, giving a festive air to the proceedings.
The streets of Johannesburg were lined with fire engines and Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) vehicles, awaiting the mayoral cavalcade.
Six members of the Metro Police's cycling team wound their way through the streets of Johannesburg's city centre from the JMPD offices in Loveday Street to rendezvous with Councillor Masondo's entourage at the corner of Rissik and Smit streets in Braamfontein
From there, with sirens making a banshee din and lights flashing, Metro Police and Emergency Management Services (EMS) vehicles made a breathtaking spectacle as they made their way along Rissik Street.
Pedestrians and motorists - some bewildered, many amazed - stopped to watch the motorcade go by, getting into position to join the mayoral car.
Councillor Masondo, accompanied by his wife Khosi, was seated in the back of a grand 1917 Oldsmobile - on loan from the James Hall Museum of Transport.
A blast from the siren of a Metro Police patrol car signalled the final approach of the motorcade, and the Oldsmobile took its position and the convoy made its way slowly towards the Metro Centre.
A lone piper - Ian Sieners of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment in Parktown - stood at the corner of De Korte Street, darting glances up and down Loveday Street waiting for a sign that the mayoral car was on the way.
At a hand signal from a Metro Police officer the piper took his position in front of the procession. Piping a graceful tune, Sieners led the convoy up Loveday Street as members of the South African National Defence Force saluted and members of the Johannesburg Junior Council and school children from Diepsloot, Alexandra and Orange Farm cheered.
As the cars drew up in front of the Metro Centre the awaiting crowd rose to their feet, ululating and cheering.
The mayor observed the motorcade drive off before walking up the ramp to the awaiting guests.
Councillor Masondo, accompanied by mayoral committee member for public safety, Sizakele Nkosi, JMPD chief Chris Ngcobo and EMS chief Dr Audrey Gule, inspected the parade of honour made up of junior fire fighters, members of the Metro Police and EMS, and the South African Police Service's brass band.
The performance of the JMPD choir, dressed in white and gold, had councillors and the mayor nodding their heads and tapping their feet.
The official proceedings were opened by poet Zwelibanzi Sibiya, and then it was time for Councillor Masondo to deliver his State of the City address.
"Hey, where is Papic? Why is Papic not sitting beside the mayor?" shouted an avid Orlando Pirates football fan as the motorcade drove past. Papic is the Pirates coach - and the mayor is known as a Pirates fan.
Before his last State of the City address in 2004, Councillor Masondo congratulated South Africa's national soccer squad, Bafana Bafana on their win against Benin in an African Cup of Nations clash.
This year - before delivering his State of the City assessment - Councillor Masondo pointed out that although Kaizer Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma is the leading goal scorer in the Premier Soccer League "that is not a big deal because Orlando Pirates haven't lost a match and they are going to win the league".
After the presentation of the mayor's speech - and to the amazement of the crowd - the EMS squad sounded a salute via their vehicle's sirens.
To gasps from the onlookers, four EMS members then abseiled down the 16-storey building carrying the South African flag and the flag of the City.
To round off the ceremony, a video of just what has been happening in the 11 regions of the City was shown on 20 large television screens spread across the piazza.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
