Mutale - Residents in Limpopo's rural Vhembe district municipality have been encouraged to make use of Thusong Service Centres in order to access government services on their doorstep.
Vhembe executive mayor Tshitereke Matibe made the appeal during the Services Awareness Campaign in Sanari village outside Mutale over the weekend.
“We want our rural communities not to travel long distances to access government services from departments and institutions such as Home Affairs, Labour, Social Development, the South African Social Services Agency (Sassa) and the police, among others," said Matibe.
Matibe, who was speaking at the Makuya Thusong Centre in Ha-Makuya village, said the centres operate in villages such as Makhuva, Mtititi, Musekwa and Madimbo outside Mutale.
The Makuya Thusong Service Centre was officially opened in 2006 to service 24 villages.
The mayor said the centre only offers Sassa services, however, and has an electrical wiring problem. It also needs to be refurbished.
Makuya Thusong Centre manager Makondelele Nemasetoni said although officials were willing to deliver government services to local communities, the centre needs serious maintenance as there was poor workmanship during the construction phase.
"I am positive that the campaign will result in solutions to make the centre fully functional," said Nemasetoni.
Traditional leader Thovhele Ntsweteni Makuya welcomed the mayor's visit.
"Our communities need basic services such as water, electricity and better roads. Government’s plans such as public participation programmes and services awareness campaigns will help change the lives of our poor communities for better,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
