Malalane - Residents of Mpumalanga's poverty-stricken Ntunda village, south of Malalane, are hopeful that Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will address their problems when he visits the area on Saturday.
Motlanthe is expected be accompanied by national Cabinet members as well as provincial MECs as part of government's ongoing campaign to mobilise all sectors of society in the fight against poverty.
Residents are hoping that topics of discussion will include the state of water provision, clinics, HIV and Aids programmes, low-cost housing and unemployment.
Zakhele Zitha, who lives in Ntunda and works for the Thembalethu Home Based Care Centre in Schoemansdal, 20km away, says HIV and Aids is a huge issue that needs to be addressed.
"I believe that having no clinic in Ntunda prevents the villagers from getting information. Some people still don't believe HIV [exists], but if they had a clinic long ago, they would know more," said Zitha.
Local welder Sipho Mhlanga, who often volunteers to transport the sick to Mzinti clinic in his car, hopes the officials will address access to health care. "Here sick people are forced to walk for 10km to a clinic in the next village. Some people die in their houses waiting for help," he said.
He said most matriculants were also sitting at home without jobs or money to study further.
"I've encouraged five young men who finished matric to open a car wash so they can make money for themselves. I also give other young people an opportunity to help me with my welding," said Mhlanga.
Spokesperson in the Presidency, Thabo Masebe, said on Thursday that villagers would definitely get to talk to the politicians on Saturday.
"People are going to get an opportunity to raise their concerns with the deputy president. Some of the problems will be directed to the relevant MECs to answer and resolve," said Masebe.
