[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

The spotlight will once more be in the North West province on Thursday, 3 April starting at 10h00, when the Imbizo train hits Potchefstroom with Public Enterprise Minister Jeff Radebe and Premier Popo Molefe in the area for a vigorous programme of direct interaction of government and citizens.

The focus of the province will be on programmes aimed at promoting quality and accessible health care and services. Various leaders of government will be assisting communities to paint, clean and rebuild their clinics, health centres and other health care service points in a true spirit of Letsema, vuku'Zenzele. Also on the program will be the visit to the license conversions site, opening of a clinic in Ikageng and a visit to the child registration service point in the industrial site in Potchefstroom.

The Minister and the Premier are also expected to address a mass community gathering in a form of Imbizo at ext 7 Ikageng in Potchefstroom starting at 12h30.

Since the Imbizo program started two years ago it has grown very fast, as the public has taken up this platform to engage directly with government around implementation of its programme of action.

In seeking to build a people's contract for a better South Africa the Imbizo activities in the North West and throughout the country will focus on:

* Building on the progress made as a basis for the further advances needed to eradicate poverty and transform our country into a just and prosperous society.

* The fact that Imbizo helps build partnership, and helps answer the call by President Mbeki for us all to build a people's contract for a better South Africa.

* Building a people's contract for a safe and secure South Africa - communities working with a bigger police service to fight crime and help reduce the illegal firearms; fighting corruption

* Building a people's contract for expanded access to social services -registering those eligible for social grants, including the extended Child Support Grant; working in partnership against HIV and AIDS; ensuring that free basic electricity and water reach all who should have them; further expanding access to social services;

* Building a people's contract for growth and development - for a growing economy that expands economic opportunities and skills development to help reduce unemployment

* Building a people's contract for more efficient, people-centred government that is closer to citizens and provides easier access to services.

* Building a people's contract for African renewal in a safer world -working for peace, democracy and stability throughout our continent and beyond, creating conditions for faster development in our own country.

In the evening of the 3rd the program will include intensive dialogue with provincial stakeholders in a form of a gala dinner starting at 19h00 sharp.

Members of the media are hereby invited to join this historic event, which reaffirms government's conviction that the tide has turned, for a better South Africa.

Media Liaison inquiries: Barba Gaoganediwe on (018) 3874271, 083 2584945 kgaoganediwe@nwpg.org.za

Issued by Office of the Premier Chief Directorate Communication

1 April 2003