Ramaphosa promises 25 000 new houses in Tembisa

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed scores of Tembisa residents at Sethoga Park on March 28, promising to build 25 000 new houses in the area.

In his address, Ramaphosa said he had been assured that Tembisa was home to the governing party and that they had promised to vote for the ANC in the upcoming national elections.

However, the president said he had also received complaints from residents about expensive municipal services and the lack of employment opportunities.

“They say there are no jobs for their children and others complain that they do not have houses. I said to them the municipality is going to build 25 000 houses in Tembisa.

“To those who are complaining about houses, houses are on the way, don’t worry,” Ramaphosa told the cheering crowd.

He said his party would also create more jobs and that attracting investments was part of the strategy to address the problem of unemployment.

“We are doing everything we can to create jobs, particularly for young people and for those who feel they are over the employment age limit. We are also going to create jobs for them,” the president said.

He assured the business community that the ANC government would give residents the support to grow their businesses.

“We want to support township businesses and open incubation offices for them to learn how to run businesses. That is why we want to support township businesses, so they can participate in the mainstream economy.”

Ramaphosa implored “people to get into business and make money”.

He said his government would develop the education sector, saying the government aimed to give each learner a tablet to use for study.

He said his party had run the country for 25 years, which was an indicator the ANC was able to care for the people.

Ramaphosa also talked about the scourge of nyaope, other drugs and crime, promising his government would address these difficulties facing the nation.

“We are going to set up a committee called an anti-drug council. This committee is going to help us deal with nyaope,” the president told the ululating crowd.

An unemployed local resident, Lahli Komane, said she came to hear what the president had to say about unemployment.

“From what the president has promised, I hope my situation will change and things will be better,” said Komane.

Others said they attended the imbizo to hand over a memorandum to the president as they had been trying without luck to find employment in the government sector.

ANC volunteer Sibusiso Banda said he was happy about the turnout and the president’s Thuma Mina project.

“Wherever I am deployed, I always do my best. Today it shows that our president is not only talking but he is in touch with the people’s needs,” said Banda.