President Cyril Ramaphosa has held a productive engagement with the community of Sekhukhune District, at Motodi Sports Complex in Limpopo.
This was the eighth successful Presidential Imbizo of the current administration.
The President inspected the progress of R37 Driekop - Steelpoort Interchange road project. The project is part of the massive road infrastructure rollout programme across the province. Upon its completion, it will link the district with Polokwane, the capital city of the province.
Preceding the Imbizo were other build-up activities led by various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Mayors and other agencies of government.
They checked progress on service delivery projects within the four local municipalities that make up Sekhukhune District Municipality.
The President, accompanied by Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, the Acting Premier of Limpopo, Mayors and members of the Limpopo Members of the Executive Council and traditional leaders from across the district proceeded to the Motodi Sports Complex to engage with members of the community, including business organisations.
Key to some of the issues raised by the community was shortage of water, unemployment, illegal mining and the shortage of higher education centers in the area.
In his response, the President acknowledged the challenge of water and invited the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, to provide an update on the progress of resolving the water shortages.
Minister Mchunu expressed concern about the rollover of funds earmarked for water projects.
He announced a R12 billion project aimed at addressing the water problem and committed that the Department of Water and Sanitation will work directly with the local authorities and the mining sector on this project.
The President further assured the community that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will intensify its programme of combating illegal mining, working together with law enforcement agencies.
The department will further engage with the relevant stakeholders to address issues related to mining in the district.
Mchunu also encouraged communities to actively participate in local economic activities.
President Ramaphosa thanked the people of Sekhukhune for attending the imbizo in their numbers and the manner in which they raised their issues and willingness to work with government.
He also thanked the mining companies for working together with government and he acknowledged the positive input by a youth representative, who emphasised the importance of young people in actively participating in the upliftment of their communities. – SAnews.gov.za
