Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has recently engaged directly with residents of Winterveldt as the provincial government launched the first instalment of its imbizo programme.

The initiative is aimed at bringing government closer to communities by creating a platform where residents can raise concerns, highlight service delivery challenges and engage directly with provincial leadership.

During the engagement, residents had an opportunity to put issues affecting their daily lives before government representatives, with service delivery remaining a key concern for the community.

Lesufi reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to working with communities and other stakeholders to find practical and lasting solutions to challenges facing Winterveldt.

One of the major issues highlighted during the engagement was the area’s ongoing electricity challenges.

Lesufi said the provincial government was committed to working with Eskom and other relevant role players to address the electricity problems and ensure that solutions are sustainable rather than temporary.

The electricity challenges have continued to affect communities, with reliable access to power remaining an important concern for households and businesses.

“The Imbizo Wednesdays programme is intended to strengthen communication between government and residents while allowing officials to gain a better understanding of challenges on the ground,” said Lesufi.

For Winterveldt residents, the engagement provided a platform to raise concerns directly with provincial leadership and seek clarity on how outstanding challenges will be addressed.

Busisiwe Nkabinde of Winterveldt said, “We appreciate that the premier has come to Winterveldt to hear our concerns directly. We have raised these service delivery problems for a long time, and what we want now is to see the commitments made today translated into actual improvements in our community.”

Another resident, Joyce Phaahla, said: “The electricity problem is affecting our daily lives. We need a permanent solution because residents cannot continue living with unreliable electricity.

“We hope that government will work with Eskom and come back to the community with a clear plan and timeline.”

Lesufi said resolving Winterveldt’s challenges would require co-operation between the government, Eskom, local stakeholders and the community itself, as responsibilities and infrastructure often involve multiple institutions.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel