PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Mafikeng, North West, to address residents about service delivery issues such as lack of water, well-maintained roads and job opportunities for young people in the area.
According to government authorities, the president’s visit is part of efforts to roll out the District Development Model (DDM) and lend a helping hand in implementing the Accelerated Service Delivery initiatives.
Ramaphosa is accompanied by Premier of the North West, Bushy Maape, North West MECs, mayors and local councillors.
He is also accompanied by various Cabinet ministers, including Police Minister Bheki Cele, Defence Minister Thandi Modise, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, COGTA Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele.
In a statement earlier this week, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) said as per the President’s message in the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA), government must work for the people.
COGTA said this speaks to the need to build an ethical, capable, and developmental State that delivers on its mandate.
“To this effect, being a public-participation platform, the Presidential Imbizo to the North West will provide government an opportunity to assess the level of service delivery in the province, assess the extent to which the Section 100 intervention was successful, assess the extent to which the DDM has been institutionalised and provide the President an opportunity to listen to the people and respond to their concerns and recommendations.”
COGTA said the Presidential Imbizo will highlight challenges and unblock any challenges to service delivery in line with the DDM, which is an ‘all of government and society’ approach that enables integrated and responsive planning, implementation and budgeting through the ‘One Plans’.
Ahead of the Presidential Imbizo, a number of build-up events were held by national, provincial and municipal leadership.
Saturday’s programme consists of stakeholder engagements, community meetings, walkabouts in communities and high traffic areas like shopping centres and taxi or bus ranks, and door-to-door engagements.
“Communities will during this period be given an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers to issues that concern them. Some of the questions will be responded to during the Presidential Imbizo event taking place [today],” COGTA said.
In line with the COVID-19 pandemic regulations, attendance of the Imbizo will be limited to 2 000 community members.
For those who are unable to attend physically, a provision has been made to broadcast the speeches live through various platforms (radio stations, TV channels and social media platforms).
Engaging citizens
The Imbizo platform is an important means of ensuring citizens are heard and involved in development.
Ahead of the Imbizo, the President will engage with the North West House of Traditional Leaders and will tour the Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub.
The hub was established in 2020 following the call by President Ramaphosa in the SONA 2019 to expand township digital hubs, which would incubate new businesses.
The hub is incubating youth, women and people living with disability with preparatory Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills development, innovation, and technology and entrepreneurship development.
- Additional reporting by SA News
