As part of the sixth national imbizo focus week, the minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, visited the Maruleng Municipality on April 21.
Coupled with site inspections to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices in Sekororo, Sekororo hospital and Sekgalabjana secondary school, the visit falls in a period where direct interaction between government representatives and members of the public is prioritised.
“Imbizo’s are a vital tool to help us facilitate dialogue and ensure that we collectively find solutions to pertinent challenges that confront or communities”. Stated Radebe. “I am here with senior officials from my department to ensure that they record and follow up each and every issue raised”, he further said.
Radebe urged the community to join hands and fight the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
“Wide ranging issues have been brought to my attention by both the Maruleng and the Mopani district residents, the issues raised relate from diverse sectors, from health to social development, roads and transport, safety and security, as well as sport recreation arts and culture”, he further said.
Broken water machines and water pipes that need regular maintenance to function optimally was also raised as a concern as well as poor management practices in some of the critical departments in the Limpopo province.
“There are also issues of nepotism and corruption that undermine the efforts that government is making. It cannot be acceptable that whenever there is a tender or employment opportunities, only those associated with certain influential individuals get the opportunities”, the minister said.
“Corruption is a scourge that threatens to reverse the gains of our hard-earned democracy and government is committed to waging a fierce fight against corruption in all its manifestations therefore we will join hands and root out corruption whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head,” Radebe concluded.
