Crime, access to water and jobs have been raised as bugbears for communities in KwaZulu-Natal, the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo heard on Friday.
Umlazi resident, Sizakele Mpanza, raised concern about the high crime rate in the area, appealing to the President to intervene.
“We are concerned about what is happening. We are living in fear… we can’t even send our children to the shops because we are afraid they will be robbed by these criminals,” Mpanza said.
Mpanza appealed for more police visibility in their community, as well as a satellite police station.
Mziwendoda Sikhakhane from Richards Bay told SAnews that if given a chance to speak to the President, he will ask the President to create more job opportunities, especially for young people.
“Our youth are roaming the streets doing nothing and yet they have qualifications. I am appealing to our government to create more job opportunities,” Sikhakhane said.
Sikhakhane also raised the provision of water as an important factor for communities.
“We are struggling in our community; we don’t have water. We struggle to get water, sometimes we go for days without water,” he said.
Sikhakhane and Mpanza are among the many community members attending the imbizo, which is led by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Umnini Sportsfield in Umgababa.
Cabinet adopted the DDM in August 2019. The DDM is an integrated planning model for cooperative governance, which seeks to be an integrated, district-based, service delivery approach aimed at fast-tracking service delivery. It also seeks to ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and resourced to carry out their mandate.
Friday’s imbizo is the second DDM Presidential Imbizo under the Government of National Unity (GNU). The occasion provides the President, Ministers and KwaZulu-Natal provincial government officials an opportunity to listen to the concerns of communities and respond to them.
Lindiwe Dlamini from Umlazi, a nearby location, raised concern about the slow pace of service delivery.
“We have been waiting for too long. We kept on enquiring from the municipality but we are not getting answers. I am glad the President is here. We hope we are going to get answers today,” Dlamini said.
President Ramaphosa kicked-off the imbizo by visiting the N2 bridge, which partially collapsed earlier this week due to heavy rains.
Upon his arrival, the President was briefed about the damage by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) officials, who said the bridge will be fixed and operational by next month.
After being briefed, President Ramaphosa and his entourage proceeded to Umnini Sportsfield, where communities were given a chance to express their concerns.
The DDM Presidential Imbizo is an important public participation platform that ensures the voices and perspectives of communities are heard to advance a participatory democracy.
The imbizo continues . – SAnews.gov.za
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Twix Bond
Interview with a pirate:
There was a pirate who had agreed to do an interview with a local tv station. The reporter was very courteous and professional, giving a bit of background as to the pirate\’s business. She then began interviewing him.
\”So Mr. Longbeard, are there any risks to your business? I see you have a peg leg- how did that come about?\”
\”Well, y\’see I were sailing along the coast of South Africa, looking to plunder some locals when as I boarded the small boat from the ship, a great white shark came up and got my leg clean off. \’twas scary yes, but thus is the life of a pirate.\”
\”Wow, that is pretty scary- well, how about your hook? What happened to your hand with that?\”
\”Oh now that\’s quite the tale, y\’see I were fighting a rival pirate, and we had locked swords. We had been fighting for a few hours, and were both terribly fatigued. I had a bit of exhaustion and confusion, and when I went to block one of his sword blows, I met him with me hand instead of me sword. Took it right off, but it shocked him so much I managed to get him back pretty good and have him submit. So the hook hand was given as a replacement.\”
\”Wow. Simply fascinating. Now, what about your eye patch? How did that happen?\”
\”Well, one day, a seagull was flying overhead, and I looked up. It pooped right in me eye.\”
\”… Well wow. I must admit, I wouldn\’t think just seagull poop could damage the eye that badly.\”
\”Oh, I forgot to mention… it were me first day with the hook.\”
Dallas Foxface
Great dynasties of history
Egypt: Ayyubid
South Africa: Zulu
China: Ming
Greece: Helena
Italy: Medici
U.S.: Duck