Members of the community in Potchefstroom in the North West have raised various service delivery challenges with President Cyril Ramaphosa and the leadership from the three spheres of government during the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo held at the Ikageng Sport Complex.
The President kicked off the second round of the District Development Model (DDM) Imbizo in the North West province after visiting all nine provinces to address service delivery challenges.
This visit provides an opportunity for the President to assess progress made in implementing the interventions pronounced during his visit on 12 March 2022 in Mahikeng.
Major service delivery challenges raised by community members at the Presidential Imbizo include basic services such as water and electricity, housing, the neglect of NGOs for disabled people, disabled people not being considered for employment, poverty and unemployment, corruption, dilapidated infrastructure in schools and limited healthcare facilities.
One of the community members, Edith Ndindwa, from Ward 15 in Jacaranda pleaded with the President to assist with her RDP house, which has been in construction for over two years.
“The project has now stopped Mr President. Please assist us with this project to be completed. We do not even have toilets. We do not have electricity and water. Disabled people help themselves outside their houses. Please assist us in this regard,” she said.
Another resident, Maki Ntayi, asked the President to assist with funding for NGOs for disabled people in the North West.
“We can’t get funds for the NGOs we run to assist disabled people. I am pleading that you assist us with electricity connection. President please take disabled people into consideration. Our centre is not in a good condition,” she said.
The President and various Ministers provided some solutions to the issues that were raised by the community and also gave an update on progress made since the last Imbizo visit in the province.
“I thank you for giving yourselves time to come and listen to government’s plan and to voice your concerns to us. Plans to improve your lives in the North West. When we hold Izimbizo we allow everybody to speak so that we can get a clear understanding of what their concerns are,” said the President.
“We have heard you clearly, even I have written down what you are saying and the officials present have listened and taken note of your concerns. Now we have a clear understanding of how life is in this district. You all share similar concerns including the sewerage system, water, roads, jobs and housing.”
Some of the other issues raised included red tape when starting farming businesses and mining rights.
The president said he would call different Ministers to respond to the issues that are relevant to their departments.
“Almost all of Cabinet is here to listen and respond to the various issues raised and explain what the State’s plans are.”
President Ramaphosa started his morning with an oversight visit at the Potchefstroom Water Reservoir Project in Ikageng, in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West.
The upgrading of the Potchefstroom Water Treatment Works project will see a 25 megalitre reservoir that will convey water to Ikageng Proper, Ikageng Ext. 1,4,5 9,12, Potchindustria, Mohadin and the Northern portion of Ikageng Ext. 7.
The position of the new reservoir site is also suited to cater for any future developments once the urban edge is extended to the northwest of the reservoir site.
President Ramaphosa was received by Acting Premier Nono Maloyi and Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu. Also, attending were Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Thembi Nkadimeng and Deputy Minister Parks Tau. – SAnews.gov.za
