Johannesburg - From unemployment, a lack of housing, high electricity prices, load shedding and the slow service at the local clinic to drug abuse - the residents of Soweto on Thursday highlighted their problems to President Jacob Zuma.
Although the residents acknowledged that the national government was doing its bit, the problem was at a local level where the service was slow.
"Most of us are unemployed, we are suffering, if you don't have money it means that your electricity will be cut or your water will be cut. Load shedding is also frustrating us. It is winter, we can't cook, we are freezing and streets are dark which makes them unsafe," one resident told a meeting at the Dlamini Multi-Purpose Centre in Soweto.
The meeting was part of the President's Monitoring Visit 2012, which was attended by Zuma, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, the new Transport Minister Ben Martins and Deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Gauteng MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi.
Other issues that were voiced included challenges in opening small businesses and labour brokers.
Bramfischerville residents complained about the sewage infrastructure in the area. They said they were worried about the health implications of having raw sewage spilling over into streets because of blocked pipes. There was also an unbearable smell and it attracted flied.
Zuma promised the residents that he would look into the matters raised and approach the relevant departments and agencies. He thanked the community for being frank with government.
Speaking in Zulu, he told the packed hall that people had a right to raise their concerns so that government can knew where it was failing, slow or making progress.
"We are here to serve you. You have the full right to raise your concerns - we need to hear them so that we can know that needs to be changed," said Zuma.
He urged citizens to continue to expose incidents of poor service delivery, through various reporting tools such as the provincial and presidential hotline.
In responding to some of the concerns, Premier Mokonyane said they had extended operating hours at some of the clinics. The opening of the Jabulani Clinic would also help alleviate the pressure at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital and some of the other nearby clinics.
On housing, the Premier said the Housing Department was committed to formalising settlements around the Gauteng at a cost of about R8.5 billion.
She said they were about 18 projects which were being rolled out throughout the province to revitalise the informal settlements, including the refurbishing of the Mapetla, Nancefield, Liateng, Dobsonville and Klipspruit and Diepkloof Hostels among others.
However, Mokonyane told the residents that one of challenges the provincial government was facing was that many RDP beneficiaries were selling their houses and moving back to the informal settlements.
"This is backtracking us...if you decide to sell your RDP house before the six-year period, you must give it back to government."
The Finance Minister hoped that the provincial government would open up projects aimed at catalysing business investment in townships in order to attract more youth.
He said obstacles hindering youth to enter the labour market needed to be addressed urgently.
Acting Mayor Rehana Moosajee said although the challenges where not the same as in 1994, the city was trying to address them. She said they were determined to build partnerships with communities to build better communities.
To get to Soweto, President Zuma traded his luxury motorcade and used a Metro Rail train, the Gautrain and a Rea Vaya Bus to get first-hand experience of Gauteng's public transport system.
The journey started at 7am at Pretoria's Bosman Station, where the President bought his own train ticket.
Zuma and his delegation boarded the Metro Rail train from Pretoria to Rhodesfield Station where he took the Gautrain to Park Station in Johannesburg. They then proceeded to Wanderers Taxi Rank before boarding a Rea Vaya bus to Dlamini.
Sharing is experience, Zuma said the delays in the rail system were affecting the economy as workers were struggling to get to work in time. He added that the country needed faster, safer and reliable trains.
He gave the Gautrain the thumbs up.
Commuters, meanwhile, used the opportunity to share their frustrations with the President. These included safety, unreliable services, high prices and ailing infrastructure.
