makes Valentine surprise to Limpopo's cholera victims
11 February 2009
Minister for Provincial and Local Government (DPLG), Sicelo Shiceka, will
make this Valentine's Day one to remember for some residents in Musina on
Saturday, 14 February when he hands out food parcels and clothing to those
affected by the cholera outbreak in the area.
In collaboration with the Institute for Local Government management (iLGM),
Minister Shiceka and the iLGM's National Executive Committee will hand out
these gifts of love at the Musina Civic Centre, and thereafter spend time
interacting with the locals and touring the showgrounds.
The minister's act of love is a culmination of an initiative which was
started in December by the iLGM of South Africa, which has since then collected
a considerable amount of donations from the business sector, non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) as well as ordinary South Africans who dug into their
hearts and their pockets to lend a helping hand to the affected
communities.
"Incidents of this nature should not be happening in this day and age, and
that is why in the DPLG we have taken a conscious decision since I came into
this portfolio, to bring in the private sector, traditional leadership and
other formations in civil society to collaborate in making our municipalities
and provincial governments work even better to serve our communities.
Sustainable solutions can only come from government with all civil society
formations! An outbreak of cholera is only a symptom of a more fundamental
problem that needs to be addressed collectively, in the same manner that
business, NGOs and ordinary citizens have responded to the iLGM's call for help
for those affected by this disease," says Minister Shiceka.
The iLGM of South Africa, with a membership of municipal managers at both
middle and senior management levels, was set up 12 years ago with the objective
of developing organisational and institutional capacity of local government
managers.
"We are humbled by the response we have received from South Africans
concerning the situation in Musina. Help that the iLGM offers to municipalities
is usually in the form of capacity building, however, in the Musina case it
just felt right to give in direct response to the needs of the people of
Musina. This is only the first step for our organisation to now step in and
help fellow South Africans in this manner," says iLGM of South African
President, Dudu Maseko. As a follow-up, the institute is considering opening a
trust fund that will focus on the medical needs of people in the affected
areas.
Minister Shiceka says the department is often only able to reach out to many
communities that it serves through organisations that it collaborates with in
the ongoing pursuit of creating a better life for all South Africans.
"Where we are not able to reach, we have organised structures such as the
iLGM, who can always count on our support to provide the necessary help to any
community in a time of need. As Valentine's Day has come to symbolise love,
there can be no better way except mark it for me," says Shiceka.
Members of the media, who wish to attend, get more information or request
interviews with the minister, please contact:
Vuyelwa Qinga Vika (Ms)
Tel: 012 334 0995
Cell: 082 877 3898
E-mail: VuyelwaQ@dplg.gov.za
Issued by: Ministry for Provincial and Local Government
11 February 2009
Source: Ministry for Provincial and Local Government (http://www.thedplg.gov.za)
