Diepsloot - Despite challenges that residents in Diepsloot face, they remain positive about government's progress in improving the lives of its citizens.
"I want to give government thumbs up for realising the importance of accelerating service delivery at our doorsteps," said Pensioner Edna Kgomo, 54, who was among the residents who applied for an ID during a Service Delivery Imbizo on Saturday.
Ms Kgomo told BuaNews once she gets her Identity Document (ID), she will immediately apply for an old age grant.
Residents came in droves to the Diepsloot Sports Ground to apply for IDs, late registration for birth, birth certificates, while several others joined the long and winding queues to apply for social grants.
The Department of Home Affairs in partnership with the Departments of Social Development, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the City of Johannesburg hosted the imbizo.
Euliane Makhuvele, 25, who gave birth to a baby girl three months ago, said the imbizo brought a sigh of relief to her since she was unable to visit the nearest Home Affairs office to apply for her child's birth certificate because she was unemployed.
Mokgadi Sasa, 45, shared the same sentiment, adding that financial constraints had been hindering her to visit the Home Affairs office in Randburg to re-apply for her 10 year-old son's birth certificate which got lost two years ago.
"This government initiative of tackling service delivery issues where people live is good. I still cannot believe it that I am re-applying for the birth certificate of my son without traveling a long distance," she said.
Another resident Meide Boikhutso, 31, told BuaNews that once she receives the birth certificates of her two boys aged three and 11, she will visit the nearest SASSA office to apply for the child support grant.
Home Affairs Acting Director Media Relations, Joseph Mohajane described the Service Delivery Imbizo as a resounding success because of the number of applications they processed at their outreach trucks.
"We value our people and the imbizo clearly shows that we are committed to putting people first," he said.
Deputy Minister of Social Development, Dr Jean Swanson-Jacobs said in April this year, men aged 61 and 62 will be able to apply for their old age pension grant.
"We have taken another step forward towards the equalisation of the old age grant between men and women.
"Men aged 63 years old are now eligible for the old age grant. The equalisation process will continue until both men and women aged 60 receive the old age grant," she said.
Ms Swanson-Jacobs said this year they have also extended the child support grant to the age of 15 years.
She said government consistently seeks to improve the lives of the most vulnerable by the escalation of rural development and the promotion of food security initiatives.
"As government, we will provide food assistance and expand access to food production schemes in rural and per-urban areas so that the poor are able to grow their own food.
"We will also establish a new and transformed criminal justice system to and improve the fight against crime.
"We are committed to a service delivery culture that will put every elected official and public servant to work for our people and ensure accountability to our people," she said.
Popular TV personality and former Muvhango actor Mpho Tsedu and Seputla Sebogodi, who plays Kenneth Mashaba on SABC 1 soapie Generation, also attended the imbizo, while Solly Moholo entertained the crowd.
