16 March 2006 Press Release GAUTENG WELCOMES NEW MAYORS The Gauteng Provincial Government congratulates the new metro, district and municipal mayors on their election and welcomes them to government in Gauteng. The people have spoken and you now bear their mandate to improve their lives and build better communities. We look forward to working with you to effectively fulfill the people's mandate and to further consolidate intergovernmental relations in our province. We remain committed to work with you to achieve our common goals, including the halving of unemployment and poverty by 2014, and to build Gauteng as a globally competitive city region. We also wish to thank Gwen Ramakgopa for her contribution to the Gauteng Provincial Government as MEC for Health since 1999 and wish her well in her new capacity as mayor of Tshwane. While her departure is a loss for the Gauteng Provincial Government, it is a gain for Gauteng. We would like to thank the voters who contributed to the deepening of democracy in our province by exercising their democratic right to vote and elect the leaders of their choice. We believe that the newly appointed mayors and their new executive committes will contribute immensely to the building of a better life for all our people. We urge communities to work together with their newly elected leaders at metropolitan, district, municipal and ward level and participate actively in local government processes so that they are able to partner government in building better communities. ENDS Issued by the Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government For more information contact Annette Griessel on 011 355 6859 / 082 563 3614 For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Provincial Government's portal at www.gautengonline.gov.za