President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to embark on a multifaceted two-day visit to Mpumalanga.
The visit is to commence on Tuesday, where he is expected to meet with the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Committee and undertake the second phase of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Handover.
“President Ramaphosa will commence his Mpumalanga visit on Tuesday, 10 December 2024 with a meeting with the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive.
“The meeting will be the third engagement between the national and provincial cabinets following the recent second session with the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal. The President will meet with the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu and the Provincial Government Executive,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers will accompany the President, and he will deliver the opening address at the meeting.
“The Provincial Executive will present to the President its five-year programme aligned to the priorities of the 7th Administration.
“The meeting will also discuss various approaches to service delivery issues including interventions to improve service delivery at local government level,” the statement read.
Following the meeting, President Ramaphosa will undertake the second phase of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Handover in Mpumalanga.
The Presidency described the Welisizwe Bridges programme as a “key investment in community infrastructure... giving people dignity, access to opportunities for education and work”.
“The handover ceremony will afford the President an opportunity to directly witness the work that has been done since the pronouncements made in the 2023 State of the Nation Address.
“President Ramaphosa indicated at the time that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, working together with the South African Defence Force, would build 96 bridges in the financial year 2023/2024.
“Collaborative efforts between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and the Department of Defence have already commenced implementation in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West,” the Presidency said.
The Welisizwe programme is a Strategic Integrated Project that was a priority for the 6th Administration.
“In areas where Welisizwe bridges are constructed, the socio-economic conditions in our communities are improving and barriers for communities to get where they need to get safely are eliminated.
“These bridges are essential in addressing the challenges faced by citizens and children, who previously navigated perilous rivers to access schools and essential social services,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za
