MECs listen to
residents’ concerns
By Nangamso Mabindla
20 June 2008
GOVERNMENT is being brought closer to the people of Eastern Cape, with MECs visiting communities across the province.
This week it was the turn of Buffalo City residents to talk to their government leaders. On Wednesday, 18 June the MECs for finance and agriculture, Billy Nel and Gugile Nkwinti, visited Reeston.
Reeston residents called for housing delivery to be speeded up
The initiative is in response to Premier Nosimo Balindlela’s call for the government to be innovative in its efforts to accelerate service delivery. The outreach programme is one of the ways in which the state aims to accelerate delivery.
The South African Social Security Agency’s service on wheels is part of the programme, allowing people to apply for various types of government social grants.
Speaking to residents, Nel said that the government wanted to enhance different skills. “I want to encourage the youth to continue with their studies, especially maths and science. If they do that, we are ready to assist them if they want to study further.”
People were also encouraged to use the outreach programme to voice their concerns to the government. “We want you to come to us and tell us what is on your minds. You need to make your voices heard,” Nel said.
Some of the issues raised by Reeston residents were the need to speed up housing delivery, and to improve electricity and roads. The area also needed a clinic of its own, as the nearest clinic was a long walk away and mobile clinics only visited on Thursdays.
There was also a need for assistance for small, medium and micro enterprises. In response, Nkwinti said they would take note of people’s concerns and hand them over to the relevant MECs.
“We have noted these concerns and will ensure that we respond to them. I also want to encourage the youth here to start getting involved in the Expanded Public Works Programme [EPWP]. This is used to give them the needed skills for better employment in the future.”
He encouraged young people to think of ways to benefit from the EPWP.
“When we came to Reeston, we had to drive [very slowly] because of the big potholes in the road; the youth can come together and fix this road. We can then train them through the EPWP,” Nkwinti said.
The outreach programme will stop in Duncan Village, Mdantsane and Mxhaxho Village in King William’s Town.
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