Recorded speech by the Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato

Note to editors: Please find below the speech recorded by Alderman Dan Plato, Executive Mayor of Cape Town for the Community Service Awards on 29 June 2021, following the cancellation of the physical event. The video recording, announcing the winners, will be released at a later stage as residents were not able to attend the event. Those recipients who collected their awards were given what would have been a prepared sit down meal as a take away dinner instead.

To all the councillors,

Community Service Nominees

And representatives from community organisations

While we cannot physically celebrate together today, it is a pleasure to be sharing this message with you and to acknowledge the contribution being made to communities.

I am leading this virtual awards ceremony to note the diligent work and commitment of the many role-players in our communities who assist in connecting residents with the necessary services and opportunities.

We have unfortunately had the cancel the physical event, and record the awards ceremony to protect those who would have otherwise joined us at a sit down dinner this evening. To those watching, please continue to be safe and practice all the necessary precautions.

The Mayoral Community Service Awards are intended to honour the extent of community service work of individuals, groups or organisations across the 24 SubCouncils in the city.

We put out the call for nominations looking for those whose creative community service work impacts the community positively, and displays a track record of community service.

These individuals working in communities are heroes who love their neighbourhoods and are passionate about creating a positive impact in various ways.

Their involvement is crucial in helping to ensure greater community participation and working towards unity and progress.

Creating an inclusive society whose focus is on the upliftment of others requires all of our efforts.

Of course, we cannot forget the heroic efforts of our frontline workers ensuring we receive life-saving care, our communities are kept clean and safer and many others who put their lives on the line to ensure our City keeps functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Efforts by the City also include supporting ECDs, hundreds of soup kitchens, youth programmes such as the Life Counts initiative, the Walking Bus programme aimed at ensuring our children can get safely to and from school in their communities.

We also have our Neighbourhood watch groups across the city, our social workers implementing important interventions, and these are just some of the structures involved in creating engaged and functional communities.

Indeed, there are many persons, organisations and other entities doing much-needed work to support these efforts by the municipality.

Some of the following categories have already received their award, but it’s important that we mention why they are receiving accolades:

Social support: for providing social support towards the development, and nurturing of the community.

Youth empowerment: for linking young people to dedicated services aimed at the development of the youth.

Women empowerment to assist the development/advancement of women

Peace worker: helping to facilitate the promotion of peace and harmony in the community.

Community business empowerment: for providing support and a service that contributes to the growth and development of community businesses and entrepreneurship.

Children support: for providing care, support and guidance to children to increase their well-being.

Talent nurturing & development: for providing a service or support to sports development, music, and discovery of various other talents at a grassroots level.

Safety development & awareness: initiates, creates awareness and participates in safety development programmes.

Leadership: exhibits selfless leadership at the grassroots level.

Community Bravery: for being courageous in the face of challenging or difficult situations to assist their fellow resident.

Community Heroes of the year 2021: in acknowledgement of sacrifices made for the benefit of the community.

Organisations who implement hands-on solutions for community issues, especially where they improve the lives of the
underprivileged.

Today we take a moment to appreciate you and the valuable contribution you make to your neighbourhood and to your community.

We look forward to working with you into the future as partners. Making progress is possible by working together.

Thank you.

Source: City Of Cape Town