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Deputy President Jacob Zuma began his two-day Imbizo to Xhariep District in the Free State province today (28 November 2001).

The Deputy President's delegation includes the Minister for Social Development Zola Sikweyiya, Minister for Transport, Dullah Omar and the Minister for Housing, Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele who will join the Imbizo delegation tomorrow.

The Deputy President chose the remote Xhariep District for the Imbizo in order to familiarise himself and his delegation with the challenges facing government in service delivery to the district and province.

The Deputy President's delegations use the opportunity to listen to the views of the people about governance and service delivery, and ascertain their needs and priorities.

In all the different venues people formed long queues to ask questions and to raise complements and complaints. They complimented government on delivering services such as electricity, pension, telephones and housing.

At the same time most people in the district called upon the Deputy President and the government to pay urgent attention to issues such as:

* Roads
* Health
* Unemployment
* Recreational facilities for the youth

The Imbizo began this morning with visits to agricultural projects. The first stop for the delegation was a visit to the Oppermansgronde Irrigation Scheme in the Letsemeng Municipality area, where the Deputy President went to interact with emerging farmers.

Some members of the community of Oppermangsronde expressed outrage over the high incidence of rape and sexual abuse of children and some of them called for a return of the death penalty. The Deputy President stressed that government was doing everything in its power to curb child abuse and added that the death penalty was not an option as it was contrary to the Constitution of the country. And also because only God has the right to take away lives.

The delegation thereafter proceeded to a vineyard-farming project in Jacobsdal, which is funded by the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs and Water Affairs and Forestry.

The project is run by 28 emerging African farmers, 12 of whom are wine farmers. It has been in operation for two years to date and the first harvest is expected next year.

The first day of the Imbizo ended at the Dithlake Stadium in Koffiefontein later in the afternoon where the Deputy President, Ministers, MECs and councillors fielded questions from members of the public on various issues of service delivery.

The Imbizo will resume tomorrow morning and the delegation will visit another part of the district.

For more information contact Lakela Kaunda, spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 082-782-2575.

Issued by The Presidency

28 November 2001