Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has urged citizens to engage government as the national Imbizo Focus Week gets into full swing.
At the start of the Imbizo Focus Week on Monday, Mokonyane urged citizens to use the opportunity and engage with government leadership on issues they are facing in their communities. The Minister also urged citizens to propose solutions for the challenges they face.
“This will also enable citizens to exercise their rights and strengthen the democracy that uTata Nelson Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu fought for,” she said.
The Imbizo Focus Week comes as the country celebrates the centenaries of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu. The centenary celebrations of these two icons have a significant impact in bringing diverse South Africans together, said the Minister.
These celebrations are meant to highlight the principles and values espoused by these great Africans and to galvanise the spirit of national pride and Ubuntu.
In addition, government calls on all South Africans to live up to the values of uTata Madiba and Mama Sisulu.
“Government calls on all South Africans to live up to the values of Tata Madiba and Mama Sisulu, help build a country we envisaged in the NDP [National Development Plan] as we have made good progress in its implementation such as life expectancy that has improved, and people are living better quality lives.
“More children are at school, and the quality of education is gradually improving. Government continues to work daily to expand the delivery of water, electricity, roads, housing and other services to the people.”
Minister Mokonyane said government will also use the Focus Week to address issues like poverty, unemployment, inequality and most importantly the increased level of violence and brutality against women and children.
Some of the key highlights of the week is a project visit by Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
The project is the Makhathini Cotton gin, which is a black owned cotton farm, that benefits 1 590 farmers from 32 cooperatives.
The project contributes a great deal in job creation as well as providing food security which also breaks the cycle of poverty in the community.
This is also in line with NDP vision 2030 that states that the rural economy (agriculture) should create close to one million new jobs, contributing significantly to reducing overall unemployment.
“Government will use this Focus Week to ensure that services reach those they are meant to, especially persons living in rural areas, the poor, women and children. We call on all South Africans to also embrace the spirit of, ‘Thuma Mina’ and be the change we want to see in the country by joining the call to serve the nation,” said the Minister.
For updates during the Imbizo Focus Week the public can follow @GCISMedia @SAgovnews and @GovernmentZA, and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #ImbizoWeek. – SAnews.gov.za
