Some community members and traditional councils of the Nkangala District Municipality grabbed the opportunity to voice their concerns about service delivery to President Cyril Ramaphosa during his District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo at the Sy Mthimunye Stadium in Ackerville on Thursday March 7.

Addressing the attendees and those who raised their concerns at the imbizo, Ramaphosa said it was crucial that the mayors of the Nkangala District Municipality and the ministers of various departments be present to respond to these issues.

“These issues include water, electricity, title deeds, health facilities, challenges faced by persons living with disabilities, youth unemployment and the dilapidated roads in many communities in the district. We are hoping to tackle these issues effectively so that all communities are developed accordingly. The issues raised are noted and have been accelerated for delivery,” Ramaphosa said.

The aim of the imbizo was to enable successful implementation of the One District, One Plan DDM, in which residents, traditional leaders, business formations, organised labour and faith- and community-based organisations work with government across all phases of planning, implementation and evaluation.

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He led a delegation comprising of ministers, mayors, the Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, and the chairperson of the Mpumalanga Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan leaders, Kgoshi Mathupi Mokoena. Ramaphosa also conducted an oversight visit to the state-of-the-art Middelburg District Hospital.

In her remarks, Mtshweni-Tsipane said since the inception of the DDM in 2019, this approach is already picking up momentum in all three districts of the province.

“Through partnership formations, we will deliver the identified 21 catalytic projects that have already been approved in the one plan of the Nkangala District area. These include the Loskop Regional Bulk Water Scheme, Delmas Waste Water Treatment, Middelburg District Hospital, Siyathuthuka Brick Plant Project, the Rust de Winter Bulk Water Supply Scheme and the Linah Malatjie Tertiary Hospital.”

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In tackling the issues surrounding water provision, she said the Provincial Government has acknowledged the past planning and development of new settlements without installation of bulk infrastructure and reticulation in places like Siyanqoba. “In addressing this challenge, the municipality will install a modular plant at Doornpoort by September 2024.” She said the dilapidated roads are being attended to.