Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa paid the region a second visit when he came to the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo in the Thabong Indoor Sports Center, Welkom, on 7 December.
Present at the imbizo were different ministers, deputy ministers, MECs and stakeholders, including Bheki Cele, Minister of Police, and Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation.
A series of outreach activities led by different ministers and businesses before the imbizo also received a chance to showcase their products. Different stalls from different government departments were there to assist residents.
About 10 000 residents attended the imbizo and some residents shared issues they had with the president, such as water and load shedding, poor road infrastructure, lack of housing, unemployment, sewage leakages, cable theft, and rife crime in different communities.
Most residents mentioned the raw sewage around their communities and how it was the only thing they smelled. The streams of raw sewage even run next to schools.
One resident of a community forum mentioned that they needed financial assistance from the government, as they were risking their lives assisting the police. They stated they need cars, a stipend, and uniforms.
The president was shocked by a 95-year-old resident still needing housing, and he vowed to assist the seniors first. Ministers were given an opportunity by the president to respond and provide updates.
