Mathabatha lends Vhembe residents an ear at Imbizo

THE water and electricity supply, as well as the improvement of roads were some of the major issues residents of Ha-Musekwa, Straighthardt and Khomele villages outside Makhado raised with a government delegation headed by Limpopo premier Stanley Mathabatha on Friday.

They said they wanted government to address these issues urgently.

The Imbizo took place at the Musekwa sports grounds in order to assess service delivery and to give residents feedback on the challenges that were raised during the government Imbizo of 2012.

Mathabatha told residents that the previously discussed challenges such as the supply of water and electricity and the improvement of roads were being attended to by government.

He said government was in the process of changing the lives of poor communities for the better.

“As a provincial government, we are in the process of getting a water licence to get water from the Nzhelele Dam, which was actually built for farming activities.

“In May, during our election campaign, we promised communities that the road between Makhado and Thohoyandou would be rebuilt, and I promise residents that we will fulfil this promise,” Mathabatha said.

Public works, roads and infrastructure MEC, Jerry Ndou said the Matavhela-Gogogo-Ha-Mudimeli road would be tarred during the next financial year.

Vhavenda king, Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, congratulated the provincial government for taking the lead in changing the lives of his communities for the better.

“We are excited that government does not only visit communities when they need votes, but are also engaging with the people who put them into office. As traditional leaders, we fully support government’s plan of delivering better services to the people,” Ramabulana said.

Resident Christiana Munyai, who spoke on behalf of home-based care centre volunteers, said they had volunteered as caregivers in the community for almost 13 years.

She urged government to provide them with jobs.