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BUSHBUCKRIDGE- "Enough has been said, enough policies are in place, we now have a task as government to ensure that the community driven projects out there are developed in a sustainable manner" said the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, during her Imbizo week visits to communities which started on Monday 31 March 2003 and ending today (7 April 2003).

Mabudafhasi, who showcased governmental implementation process, particularly after WSSD took place last year, at Damdoryn near Haartbeespoortdam in the North West when she handed over R6m to the Damdoryn Market Project is also going to be handing over 10 computers to Madizi High School in Bushbuckrigde, as well as R30 000 and a computer to each of the three Bed and Breakfast Projects that she launched during her last years Imbizo in the same area.

According to Mabudafhasi, she and her Department took this action in an endeavour to create employment, eradicate poverty and boost the economy of the country.

Madizi High School is situated in the North East of Bushbuckridge in Bohlabela District Municipality, White City, one of the 13 Presidential Nodes in the country. This area has a population of +/-5000. The unemployment rate is estimated at 60%, with the youth and women forming about 80% of the unemployed population.

When Mabudafhasi first visited the school, which was during education month in February 2002, she adopted the school and committed herself to developing the school and its pupils. Hence she has since mobilised funds and responded to the requests that were made during her last Imbizo visit.

Mabudafhasi said that what is of significance about the school and this community is their close proximity to both Andover Game reserve (where they were removed from during the 70s) and the Cottondale-Manyeleti Road which have been identified by Bohlabela District Municipality as Anchor projects to be implemented under the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP). She said that the provincial government of Limpopo is commercialising Andover Game Reserve as part of the restructuring of state assets in order to maximise community benefits in the form of job creation and participation in tourism related initiatives in the area. Mabudafhasi further said that the commercialised process is however obstructed by land claims against the property, which have not yet been resolved.

"The tarring of Cottondale-Manyeleti road which is currently under development is another anchor project that runs through the community. It is envisaged that the final destination of the project will be Manyeleti Game Reserve, which has been identified as anchor project that will boost the economic development of the area", said Mabudafhasi.

She further said that her choice of Madizi High School is a classical example of integrated approach to development in that it is linked to a number of development initiatives, which enjoy full support of all spheres of government.

I am very happy that these projects are something that these communities will own for a long time and even generations to come, ended Mabudafhasi.

Contact: Zodumo Mbul @ 0846807860, (012) 310- 3899, (021) 462-1777

Issued by Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

7 April 2003