The community of KwaZanele, Breyten and surrounding areas benefited from government services when MEC for Social Development, Ms Nomsa Mtshweni rolled out an outreach programme recently.
Ms Mtshweni conducted the Intergrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) where she led government departments SASSA, Home Affairs, Health, Social Development, SAPS, Cogta, Agriculture, Correctional Services, Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Gert Sibande District Municipality, SARS, and others.
While addressing the community, Ms Mtshweni said the programme was aimed at bringing services closer to the people.
Thereby reducing overcrowding and improving customer relations at local offices and pay points.
Community members had the opportunity to have their questions, concerns and problems addressed on the spot by relevant officials. Stakeholders had their tents, gazebos and mobile offices set up at the stadium to assist peoples with their different enquiries.
Some of the prominent questions related to incorrect billing by the municipality, service delivery, housing, identity books, social and child grants among others.
Most members of the community the newspaper spoke to said they appreciated the MEC bringing all the services to the people, as some of them could not afford taxi fare to get to the offices in Ermelo.
A few, however, took a swipe at the MEC, questioning the timing of the event and saying these were efforts to convince them that the government cared for its people, as local government elections were imminent.
During the outreach programme Ms Mtshweni donated school uniforms to needy learners; food parcels, blankets and groceries to senior citizens; six wheel chairs to beneficiaries and vanity cases to people with albinism.
