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STRONG WORDS: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe at the Salga conference. PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU

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He said those who acted like "benevolent dictators" left people feeling alienated and with no other choice but to embark on violent protests.

Motlanthe said the responsibility of leaders was to make the 1955 dream of the Freedom Charter - which guarantees economic prosperity - a reality.

"It must be our daily mantra for all of us in leadership to put people first and to be mindful, always, to be compassionate and empathetic about their needs."

Motlanthe was speaking on the second and final day of SA Local Government Association (Salga) conference in Midrand.

Before Motlanthe took to the podium, Salga deputy chair Mpho Nawa told delegates to "refrain from singing songs that might be divisive".

On Monday delegates sang a pro-Zuma song, "sihamba noZuma (We are going with Zuma), before President Jacob Zuma addressed the conference.

Motlanthe's said that some service delivery protests that have hit local government had little to do with lack of service delivery.

"It was more about the delivery of mismatched priorities and in some cases services that are outside the local government sphere."

Motlanthe acknowledged that there were plenty of problems facing local government but said these were not insurmountable.

There needed to be better communication between councillors and communities, he said, and concerns needed to be taken seriously.

Comments

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Thu Jun 20 10:25:49 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 12, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Ntate Motlanthe how many times must we put people first and who are these people????
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Sep 12, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

A public works official just got fired for leaving beyond his means no criminal changes nothing how do you explain that
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Sep 12, 2012

ThrippleGee

Nice campaigning speech President Kgalema Motlanthe, Your Road to Mangaung now is even, you are on the Right track.....Viva President Kgalema Motlanthe viva. We know you are not boxing the states fund, you are not a Tenderpreneur, We know you always put people first Mr. President... We know you are not the Second in Command (To Zuma) who is boxing the states funds and benefiting their Friends and Family, we know you dont do that, Such a Holly man hahahahahaha.. Viva Our President Viva hahahahahahaha Holly SH***************t
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Sep 12, 2012

Papage

This was a slogan of the previous Presidents, Mr Mbeki use to say " Batho Pele" where did that take him to? Zuma says"Kuku first" then you will see, we need to put people first, those in need must be offered assistant, there are very poor people all over our Country. We need to sort out the "Kings and Cousilors" how can they both work together for the benefit of the communities, it is hard out there in the villages, kings make their own rules and Coucilors are left frustrated, they can not perform their duties, we need to solve that.
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Sep 12, 2012

cornelius

Go Kgalema, you are the only person who can save SA from this madness that is sweeping the country, which is caused by a lack of authoritave leadership.

There must be change, there is no doubt of that.
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Sep 12, 2012

Pitso.MCCMA.SAFA

Thanks our president. People of SA should come first. We heared enough about people of Nkandla who enjoyed all the benefits of our freedom charter they did fight for. Everything for the past five years was happening in Nkandla. Thanks to mangaung to be in December,may be the CAF cup would be dictated to take palce in Nkandla.
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Sep 12, 2012

Voetzek

Ntsebe is starting to lobby for votes, its too early
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Sep 12, 2012

|Sinudeity|

And Zuma also said "We must put people first". The elective conference must be drawing closer when people start making statements like these.
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Sep 12, 2012

malemaforpresident

Mr Motlantle do we still have a freedom charter or a freedom shatter?
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Sep 12, 2012

MissBhakajuju

K.G !!!!!
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