President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured citizens that government remains committed to delivering services and addressing their challenges.
He was speaking during the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo programme. The programme was held in Kuruman in the Northern Cape on Thursday.
The programme presents a platform for communities to lay out the challenges they face to the president, his Cabinet, provincial and local government.
“We don’t want you, our people, to lose hope. Government is working in a very focused manner to address the issue of education and health. We are focusing on various industries, industries that are important for your progress like mining and renewable energy.
Skills training, job creation
“Those are some of the key industries that we are focusing on. We are also focusing on spreading the skills base. That is why training is going to happen here… The public employment programme is going to create more job opportunities.
“With that, we should be filled with hope and confidence that in the course of time, we will be addressing some of the issues that you have raised here,” he said.
During the imbizo, residents told of challenges, including a lack of access to water. They also face challenges of educational and vocational training facilities for youth. Housing and crime related issues were also mentioned.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the imbizo, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the faced by the residents are enormous. But he also vowed that government will address them.
A lot has been done since 1994, and more still to be done
“As an administration, we have sought to fulfil and address those needs and we will continue to do so. They were huge from 1994 and we have done a lot to address many of those needs. The needs of our people will continue, but we will continue working very hard to address those needs.
“But what is good is that the people have the freedom and the opportunity to raise their concerns. And as they raise their concerns, we are much more encouraged to address those concerns. It’s important that we should get to hear how our people are living, and what they are experiencing.
“This is a great opportunity for us to do more and to do more together, with our people,” he said.
There have been at least 13 Presidential izimbizos held throughout the term of the sixth administration. These touched tens of thousands of people who interacted with all three spheres of government.
Imbizos have made huge strides in addressing challenges
The Northern Cape Presidential imbizo is expected to be the last to be held for this term.
“A lot of people were very enthusiastic to raise their views and raise questions. The engagement with the community, I always find it very rich, very empowering as well. We have been able to follow up on a number of issues that have been raised at our izimbizos.
“In a way, we saved the best for last. This is the imbizo that really tops everything and closes off the sixth administration,” Ramaphosa said.
- SAnews.gov.za
