Publications
Partners
Someone once said that it takes tiny paces for a giant to learn to walk tall, and that honour is rooted in humility, because we need to remind ourselves that small steps forego impressive strides.
Similarly, an umbrella body such as the SA Local Government Association (Salga), which is known for the scope of services and success with which it has transformed grassroots government, didn’t get to its current size and sophistication overnight.
It is perhaps fitting to compare the growth of Salga with the story of a boy from Qunu who went from humble beginnings to overcoming imprisonment on his way to dominating the world stage as a political colossus.
A true son of the soil, Nelson Mandela remained close the dictum of the Freedom Charter – that the country shall be governed by the people who live in it – and so it was perhaps a foregone conclusion that Salga would see the light of day under his diligent loyalty to democratic torch-bearing.
But like the road to liberation, it took hard work and unwavering commitment to a clear set of mandates, supported by a solid mission and sound vision, for Salga to become the organisation it is today.
It is equally fitting to consider that under the chairperson of Thabo Manayoni, who recently handed the reins to Parks Tau, Salga has become a cohesive collective of municipal and metropolitan stewardship unlike any other in the world.
That Tau was recently appointed as president of United Cities and Local Government, an umbrella organisation for cities, local governments and municipal associations throughout the world, also comes as no surprise.
Here is a look back at where it all began:
