FROM PETER MOKABA REGION AT MAMATSHA VILLAGE IN GA-MOLEPO TO SAN DIEGO TO BRICS+: MAYOR MPE LEADS POLOKWANE AS CITY OF STARS AND CITY OF CLEANLINESS

MPE-LED POLOKWANE IMPRESSES MINISTER WITH SESHEGO WATER PLANT DELIVERING FOR COMMUNITIES

Mayor John Mpe today hosted Minister Pemmy Majodina at the Seshego Hybrid Water Treatment Plant. This is what progress looks like — projects that bring water, hope, and a secure future to our people. #ReagaPolokwane #NaturallyProgressive #WaterSecurity #ServiceDelivery

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.  

AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact

POLOKWANE – As the capital city of Limpopo, Polokwane is expected to lead.

And under the decisive leadership of Executive Mayor Cllr Makoro John Mpe, it is doing exactly that delivering water at home, winning awards nationally, endorsed by the President, and putting Limpopo on the global map.

This week on Monday, Mayor Mpe hosted the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina, for an inspection of the Seshego Hybrid Water Treatment Plant. The Minister was accompanied by MEC for COGHSTA Basikopo Makamu and Lepelle Northern Water Board Chairperson Dr Nndweleni Mphephu.

The plant is already delivering tangible relief to communities. Through hybrid technology, it is augmenting municipal water supply, easing pressure on aging infrastructure, and securing the city’s long-term water resilience. For a capital city, that is leadership in action.

“Polokwane is proving that with vision, partnerships and hard work, we can turn challenges into solutions,” Mayor Mpe told the delegation. “This plant is more than engineering. It is dignity for our people. Every drop counts.”

MEC Makamu commended Mayor Mpe and his team for the “significant work being undertaken to address water challenges and improve access to reliable water services.” He said what Polokwane is doing must be copied across the province.

From the warm welcome, to the technical briefing, to the walk-through of the plant, Mayor Mpe demonstrated hands-on, accountable leadership. He did not just talk about delivery. He showed it.

PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: CITY OF STARS, CITY OF CLEANLINESS

This work has not gone unnoticed at the highest level.President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly endorsed Polokwane Municipality as both the City of Stars and the City of Cleanliness.

During a visit to Polokwane, the President gave thumbs up to Mayor Mpe for leading a clean municipality.

“This is quite unprecedented,” President Ramaphosa said. “Local government whose building we are in today will immediately see some spin offs. The first spinoff that has been achieved, Polokwane Mayor Mpe has been given accolades by Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa who travels in various municipalities and cities countrywide. Minister Hlabisa said Polokwane City is clean and he has already visited Polokwane twice and the city is spotless. We proudly brand the City of Polokwane as Cleanliness.”

Mayor Mpe responded with commitment: “I will thrive to ensure that Polokwane Municipality known as the City of Stars continues to put Limpopo on the map both economically and ensuring that the Auditor-General’s books are intact.”

That commitment is visible. Under Mayor Mpe, Polokwane has embarked on setting a benchmark in integrating sports, recreation and cultural tourism to drive economic growth. The city hosted Betway Premiership matches, a marathon, and the Gospel Festival.

In November, the Peter Mokaba Stadium welcomed CAF AFCON qualifiers with Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia. 

Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United, Sekhukhune United, Polokwane City FC and Magesi FC regularly use the city’s world-class infrastructure — bringing spectators, jobs and revenue to hotels, restaurants and traders. The message is clear: Polokwane is open for business, entertainment, and world-class events.

THE HARD WORK BEHIND THE RESULTS: FOUR YEARS OF CLEAN AUDITS

This delivery is not by accident. It is built on years of disciplined work and an administration that has been nationally recognised for excellence.

The proof came on 29 January 2026, when Council received the 2024/25 Annual Report and the Auditor-General’s findings. Polokwane Local Municipality secured its fourth consecutive unqualified audit opinion. 

No qualifications. No disclaimers. Clean.

The Polokwane Housing Association mproved from qualified to unqualified audit opinion.

In South Africa’s municipal landscape, that is rare. It means money is accounted for. It means oversight works. It means residents can trust the books. 

These results are not accidental. They are the product of discipline, integrity, and leadership at the highest level of administration.

That discipline was again recognised in February at the SALGA Moses “Big Moss” Maluleke Awards held at The Ranch Hotel. Mayor Mpe stood tall alongside Speaker Cllr Kobela Modiba, Chief Whip Cllr Adolf Rapetswa, and

MMC for Finance Cllr Tshepo Nkwe as the city took centre stage.

Polokwane was honoured for 100% spending of the 2024/25 Water Services Infrastructure Grant. The city also achieved 100% spending of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and 100% spending of the Integrated Urban Development Grant. 

Polokwane was also recognised for an in-house review of Annual Financial Statements and was named the Leading mSCOA Implementation Champion. The municipality also secured a Grade 6 rating.

FROM MAMATSHA IN GA-MOLEPO TO SAN DIEGO TO NEW DELHI: GLOBAL RECOGNITION

Mayor Mpe’s leadership is now being celebrated far beyond Limpopo’s borders.

In July, Polokwane Municipality was honoured in San Diego, California, USA, with the 2026 Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award — one of the most prestigious global awards for excellence in Geographic Information Systems. 

Mayor Mpe extended sincere appreciation to the GIS Unit. “We are immensely proud of this achievement in the 2026 Special Achievement in GIS Awards taking place in San Diego, USA,” Mayor Mpe said. “Your dedication, innovation and commitment to excellence have earned our City recognition on the global stage. Well done, team! You continue to make us proud and inspire greatness.” 

Accepting the award was Ms Lungi Nkosi, Manager: GIS. 

Under Mayor Mpe’s leadership, the GIS team has been instrumental in tracking water leaks, potholes and waste collection in real time, fast-tracking infrastructure planning across all 45 wards, and strengthening disaster response.

Polokwane now shares the Esri global roll of honour with institutions like Police Scotland and National Broadband Ireland. It is the first time a Limpopo municipality has achieved this recognition. “Greatness knows no geographical boundaries — it is earned through dedication, innovation and excellence,” Mayor Mpe said. 

In March 2026, he also represented South African municipal leadership at the 2026 General Assembly of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities in New Delhi, India, spotlighting Polokwane’s innovative approaches to social development, digitalization, urban planning, and sustainable ecology.

“I am humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious invitation,” Mayor Mpe said. “This recognition affirms Polokwane's commitment to global municipal collaboration and sustainable urban development.”

PRESSING THE “GOOD BUTTON” OF ADMINISTRATION

This is what people mean when they talk about “good administration.” 

Mayor Mpe has built a culture of disciplined stewardship. Plan properly. Budget honestly. Spend every cent. Account publicly. Measure success in service delivered.

“Cllr Mpe's leadership has been the driving force behind Polokwane's success,” said officials. “He has a clear vision for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable city. But vision without execution is noise. That’s why he focuses on the basics: grants, audits, systems, delivery.”

That focus is why the Minister came to Polokwane this week. Not to hear promises, but to see results. The Seshego Hybrid Plant exists because the administration got the basics right first.

The ANC’s Head of Presidency, Sibongile Besani, has praised Mayor Mpe and his administration for their exceptional service delivery record, citing the municipality’s achievements as a model for others to follow. “If you want another paragon of service delivery, come to Polokwane Municipality led by its Executive Mayor comrade John Mpe,” Besani said.

Residents agree. “The new water treatment plant has made a huge difference in our lives. We no longer have to worry about clean water,” said Maria Phiri, a local resident.

A CAPITAL CITY LEADING THE WAY

As the capital of Limpopo, Polokwane cannot afford to fail. Its water security affects the whole province’s growth and investment.

The story of Polokwane’s success is one of persistence. It is about leadership that understands true performance is measured in taps that work, grants that are spent, audits that are clean, streets that are clean, GIS awards won globally, and a city respected on the world stage.

“With awards in hand, Polokwane's leaders have shown they're committed to building trust, brick by brick, audit by audit, grant by grant,” said Maza Msomi.

This week, as Mayor Mpe walked Minister Majodina through the Seshego plant, that message was clear. This is a municipality that functions. That delivers. That accounts. That leads.

The City of Polokwane remains committed to Reaga Polokwane — Naturally Progressive. With Mayor Mpe at the helm, the city is leveraging four years of clean audits, award-winning governance, presidential endorsement, and global recognition to ensure every resident has access to reliable water.

Polokwane is a city on the rise. And it is rising because under Mayor John Mpe, the administration pressed the good button — and never let go.