President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded a service delivery oversight visit to Carolina, Mpumalanga, during which he outlined government’s commitment to overcoming widespread poverty in the province and unlocking its economic potential.
The visit today, Friday, 20 May 2022, was the third Presidential Imbizo, following successful engagements earlier this year in the North West and Free State.
The biggest problem in the Gert Sibande District, where Carolina is situated, is a poverty rate of 66 per cent.
President Ramaphosa was accompanied by a panel of Ministers, the provincial executive and local leadership in today’s engagement with the business community, residents and stakeholder groups including the faith-based sector.
In the build-up to this imbizo, teams comprising Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MECs, Mayors and other senior government officials traversed the province for oversight visits, to engage with civil society, to hand over school infrastructure, and to meet with religious and traditional leaders.
The first segment of the imbizo entailed a business forum where entrepreneurs and farmers addressed concerns to the President and the government delegation.
Responding to the business community, the President said municipalities were the engine rooms of government.
“When they are run well, when there is effective provision of basic services, and when municipal competencies like granting permits and authorisations happen efficiently, businesses are able to grow and expand.”
By focusing on service delivery and other challenges at local government, government wanted to create a more conducive environment for business, for investment and for job creation.
The President underlined the importance of Mpumalanga to the national economy, given its status as the centre of the country’s energy industry and its role in agriculture, mining and tourism.
A number of industry giants have offices and operations in Mpumalanga, including Sasol, Columbus Steel, Exxaro,…