Pretoria - Government has thanked South Africans for participating in National Imbizo Focus Week, which ended with Communications Minister Faith Muthambi’s visit to Limpopo over the weekend.
“Government noted issues raised during the engagements with the public and will undertake interventions. We are determined to ensure that there are improvements in all areas and we will monitor progress.
“Government thanks all citizens that showed interest by attending the Izimbizo and participating in the engagements with political principals,” said Minister Muthambi.
The minister visited Giyani and Malamulele as part of the week, which she launched on Sunday, 13 July in Thohoyandou in the Vhembe District Municipality.
The week saw Cabinet members engaging in dialogues of empowerment with various communities across the country.
The programme is a communication platform that enables citizens to have a meaningful and direct engagement with members of the national, provincial and local executive.
During the week, government undertook approximately 48 izimbizo events across the country.
The week is one way of promoting a culture of social partnerships between government and citizens, as envisioned in the National Development Plan (NDP).
While government acknowledges that much has been achieved in the first 20 years of freedom; government realises that there are challenges that need to be addressed which include poverty, inequality and unemployment.
The first National Imbizo Focus Week of the fifth democratic administration took place under the theme ‘Together we move South Africa forward’.
“The izimbizo approach promotes participatory democracy where people can voice their concerns, opinions and suggestions to their representatives, which they elected into office,” said Minister Muthambi.
This year’s Imbizo Focus Week coincided with the first International Nelson Mandela Day since the death of former President Nelson Mandela.
On July 18, a number of stakeholders responded to the call made by President Jacob Zuma to participate in a clean-up campaign.
Government hosted over 30 clean-up activities at schools, hospitals, community facilities and orphanage centres, country-wide in honour of the of the late former President Mandela’s legacy.
Notable events included the clean-up campaign in the Eastern Cape at Mandela Science School in Mvezo, where President Zuma was supported by some members of the national, provincial and local executives, members of Parliament as well as traditional leaders.
Another was an event at Bophelong Provincial Hospital by Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa together with the North West provincial executive in Mahikeng. - SAnews.gov.za
