Speaker, in our various makgotlas, we initially set our target of becoming the Vaal Metropolitan River City, in 2016. After lots of planning, consultation and preparation the quest to become a metro assumed a life of its own in the hearts and minds of our people. At last Gauteng province will have a new metropolitan council. The proposed merger between Emfuleni Local Municipality and Midvaal has been approved by the Municipal Demarcation Board.
This announcement saw communities in Sicelo Shiceka, Piel's Farm, Zone 3, Evaton and many others in the region celebrating the good news. We, as the representatives of our people and servants of our communities, were vindicated. Our region will now be accorded the respect it was denied. We will take our rightful place in the Gauteng city region as an equal to those who were accorded this status.
This is a victory for our people. They must own it and embrace it. A lot has been done in our region to improve the lives of our people. Whilst the improvements speak for themselves, we still need to do more. Thank you. [Applause.]