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10 September 2006

President Thabo Mbeki completed a successful Imbizo in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape Province at 17h00 today. The President was accompanied by Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi, Eastern Cape Acting Premier Thobile Mhlahlo several cabinet ministers and deputy ministers as well as senior government officials.

The Imbizo which began yesterday morning included:
* a visit to the Soweto on Sea informal settlement - recently affected by floods
* interaction with the community of Uitenhage
* a visit to the Despatch agricultural co-operative
* a visit to the Motherwell Police station which is part of the Presidential Urban Renewal project
* several door-to-door visits where the President listened to community suggestions and concerns
* a meeting with local business, religious leaders, Non Governmental Organisations and Community Based Organisations.

Throughout the Metro, the President was enthusiastically received with throngs of people assembling to greet and embrace him.

The President noted that the Metro is functioning well but needed to focus on its Local Economic Development Strategy in greater detail. He commended the Metro for impressive service delivery record such as a 93% and 95% delivery of sanitation and water services respectively. There the Metro has similarly succeeded to provide electricity to 97% of the households.

Of significance to the government's plan to restore the dignity of people, the Metro has, since 2001, removed 16 550 toilet buckets and aims to eradicate the system in totality by 2007. Impressive results have similarly been registered in other areas; such as the continuing provision of electricity in 97, 5% of households in the period up to the last financial year.

The President called upon people living in flood plains to co-operate with the Metro's efforts to relocate them to better and safe land where the Metro has committed R5 million for the construction of 6000 temporary settlements. A further R74 million has been committed for the construction of 600 permanent homes.

The Metro also reported progress regarding the provision of infrastructure for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup and expressed confidence in its ability to complete the infrastructure well ahead of 2010.

The President expressed appreciation and satisfaction with the positive spirit which residents of the Metro demonstrate. He said that this was indicative of the confidence that people have towards the government and its commitment to partner with them in delivering a better life; well illustrating, once again, The Age of Hope that increasingly pervades South African Society.

For more information, please contact: Mukoni Ratshitanga
Tel: (012) 300 5436
Cell: 082 300 3447

Issued by: The Presidency
10 September 2006
Source: SAPA