The fourth National Imbizo Focus Week which took place from the 4 to 10 April 2016 saw government leadership from all three spheres embarking on outreach Imbizo activities and engagements with communities and stakeholders across the country.
The theme for the Focus Week was deepening awareness of the Nine-Point Plan which comprises simultaneous actions in key strategic areas, at a scale large enough for a ‘Big Push' to ignite economic growth. The week also encouraged all eligible voters to register during the final weekend of Voter Registration but also to verifying their address and registration details.
“Through the Imbizo programme government is able to interact directly with community members and discuss the possible ways to work together in fast-tracking service delivery issues. It is a vital, uniquely South African programme that should be highly valued”, said Phumla Williams.
By close of the week thirty-six Izimbizo events were held in different communities across the country.
Prominent Izimbizo included the opening event led by the Acting Minister of Communications, Mosebenzi Zwane on Monday, 4 April 2016 at Ga-Seleka Community Hall in Lephalale, Limpopo Province. It was a follow-up visit to monitor the progress made on service delivery issues raised by community members in an Imbizo with Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and the Mayor of Lephalale Cllr Jack Maeko in November 2015.
Minister Zwane and Mayor Maeko joined by the local leadership, government officials and community members, handed over two complete houses to families who had been homeless and monitored the advanced progress in three others; switched on the electricity grid providing 749 households with access to electricity and unveiled a newly tarred stretch of tarred road in an area of Ga-Seleka which had been impassable for the local transport industry during periods of heavy rain.
On Wednesday, 06 April 2016, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des Van Rooyen, held a meeting with Traditional Leaders at Mogalakwena local municipality in Limpopo Province. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was the main speaker at the engagement.
The GWK Food Processing Factory was officially opened on Thursday, 7 April 2016 at Modder River Richview in Kimberly by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina. The factory will create 100 new permanent jobs in the agricultural sector in Kimberley and other surrounding areas in the Northern Cape Province.
A highlight event in this week was the visit of the President of the Republic Jacob Zuma which took place on Friday, 8 April 2016 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. President Zuma accompanied by the Economic Cluster Ministers visited the port of Port Elizabeth to monitor the Oceans Economy infrastructure development and give progress made in the implementation of Operation Phakisa programme.
On 8 April 2016, the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Dr Siyabonga Cwele and MEC Seaparo Sekoati handed over tablets to Grade 12 learners at Seshego High School in Moletjie; which is a beneficiary of the Broadband Infraco CSI programme. The tablets were preloaded with educational content for all subjects.
Concurrently on 8 April 2016, Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu visited Soweto and engaged informal traders on how government can support them to sustain their businesses.
The closing event of the Focus Week was led by Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Enver Surty at Thaba Nchu in Free State Province on Sunday, 10 April 2016. The visit was a follow-up to an Imbizo held by the Deputy Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in the area whereby she conducted a Youth Imbizo and Information Day; and pledged to award 25 deserving matric learners with bursaries.
Deputy Minister Surty celebrated the fact that while 25 bursaries have been promised, through the efforts of the MICT SETA a total of 50 bursaries worth a total of R3.5 million were awarded to learners from different schools around the Thaba Nchu area.
“Government thanks businesses, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and communities countrywide for the contributions and participation during the Imbizo Focus Week” said Phumla Williams.
Enquiries:
Phumla Williams
Cell: 083 501 0139
