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President Thabo Mbeki will embark on a visit to the province of KwaZulu-Natal as part of the Imbizo programme of interactive governance from 29 to 31 January 2004. This will be the seventh visit following similar visits to Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, North West and Western Cape.

Premier Lionel Mtshali, National Ministers and the Provincial Ministers will accompany the President. The Imbizo affords the government an opportunity to see and hear directly from the people how it could improve service delivery. It also affords the President an opportunity to assess the progress and challenges that the government is facing in delivering services to the people of the province.

It was reported in the media that the Presidential visit is part of electioneering. We would like to refute this misconception in the strongest possible terms. The Imbizo campaign is a government programme approved by the national Cabinet in October 2000 and not a party-political campaign. Its sole purpose is to bring all three levels of government closer to the people through direct interaction with the public. By so doing, challenges and blockages to delivery are identified and solutions found. It is designed to improve delivery and therefore the lives of all South Africans. This Imbizo has been arranged with the full co-operation of the provincial Cabinet through a Joint Task Team.

During this Imbizo, the President and the Premier will meet with various stakeholders, namely Amakhosi, religious leaders, business, agriculture, education, labour and women formations in Durban. He will visit projects like the Msinga vegetable producers co-operative in Tugela Ferry, a project that employs close to 3000 developing farmers, the majority of whom are women. He will also visit the P235 - African Renaissance Roads Project, a black economic empowerment initiative and an extended public works programme that promises to create jobs for the surrounding communities.

President Mbeki, Premier Mtshali, National Ministers and the Provincial Executive will interact with the people from various communities in Msinga, Osizweni, KwaHlabisa, Ingwavuma, Mahlabathini, Harding and Gamalakhe.

The visit includes five (5) Izimbizo, forums that will afford him an opportunity to listen and hear and share views with communities on how government can improve their lives for the better.

The President together with the Premier will also participate in an Imbizo-on-Air for an hour on Ukhozi FM from 20:00 to 21:00. This will afford the people of the province an opportunity to interact with the President and the Premier.

The Imbizo gives concrete meaning to the right to freedom of expression by affording people the opportunity to have their say in determining their destiny. The people of KwaZulu-Natal are encouraged to actively participate in this process and to take advantage of the opportunity it represents.

Presidential Imbizo Programme: KwaZulu-Natal Province, 29, 30 & 31 January 2004

Day 1: Thursday, 29 January 2004

08:00 - 08:45 Msinga Vegetable Producers Co-operative, Tugela Ferry, Umzinyathi District Municipality
09:00 - 11:30 Community Imbizo, Tugela Ferry
13:00 - 15:30 Community Imbizo, Newcastle, Osizweni Stadium, Amajuba District Municipality
19:00 - 21:00 Stakeholders Meeting, Durban City Hall

Day 2: Friday, 30 January 2004

08:00 - 08:45 P235 - African Renaissance Roads Project
09:00 - 10:00 Hlabisa Clinic and Hlabisa Hospital, Hlabisa
11:00 - 13:00 Community Imbizo, Ingwavuma, Jozini Municipality
15:00 - 17:00 Community Imbizo, KwaMlaba, Mahlabathini
20:00 - 21:00 Imbizo-on-Air phone in programme - SABC

Day 3: Saturday, 31 January 2004

08:30 - 09:00 Weza Water Scheme, Mbangweni
10:00 - 12:00 Community Imbizo, Gamalakhe, Ugu District

Issued by: Ministers of Agriculture & Environmental Affairs and Education & Culture, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
27 January 2004