Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will, on 20 and 21 August 2010, visit the Municipality of Bitou (Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape) to assess progress made in lifting communities out of poverty. Bitou is part of the Eden District Municipality.
Deputy President Motlanthe will be supported by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, Human Settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale, Rural Development and Land Reform minister Gugile Nkwinti, Finance minister Pravin Gordhan, Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Economic Development minister Ebrahim Patel, Public Works minister Jeff Doidge, Trade and Industry minister Rob Davies, Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga and Public Service and Administration deputy minister Roy Padayachie.
The visit forms part of the ongoing campaign to fast-track the delivery of social and municipal services. The campaign also involves the identification of “change agents” who, given targeted state support, can take up skills development and work opportunities thus enhancing their ability to lift their households out of poverty.
The campaign targets the poorest wards using data from Statistics South Africa. The aim is not necessarily to expose poor service delivery but to bring urgency and better coordination among national, provincial and local government poverty alleviation efforts.
Efficient inter-governmental relations and greater levels of programme coordination are cornerstones of this initiative.
In addition to highlighting and enhancing the work of provincial and local government authorities, the campaign brings national departments and development agencies closer to where delivery happens. A community meeting will be held and will be addressed by the Deputy President and Premier Helen Zille.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Venue: Day one: Bitou Council Chambers
Time: 15h00 to 19h00
Inter-governmental relation (IGR) session to be addressed by the leadership of the Western Cape Provincial Government
Venue: Day two Anti-poverty door-to-door visit: Bitou, Plettenberg Bay
Time: 08h00 to 10h30
(IGR continues) Presentation and discussion of Bitou Municipalities anti-poverty programme
08h00 to 12h30
Door to door visits (Deputy President accompanied by Premier, Ministers and MECs to visit different households)
13h00 to 15h00
Interaction with the community includes. Responses by Deputy President, Ministers, MECs and councillors
Media are invited to cover the event and are requested to RSVP for access to all sessions with:
Shadi Baloyi
Cell: 076 946 7136
E-mail: shadib@gcis.gov.za
For further information contact:
Zingaphi Jakuja
Cell: 082 766 3940
Source: The Presidency
