TSOMO – President Cyril Ramaphosa recently held the 9th District Development Model
(DDM) Presidential Imbizo in Tsomo, under the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality in Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province.
The engagement took place on Friday 11th
August 2023 and is part of the current administration’s efforts to assess service delivery, evaluate coordination across government spheres, and interact with communities to address their challenges.
The District Development Model is an integrated planning model for cooperative governance that aims to fast track service delivery through a district based approach.
Under the theme, ‘Leave No One Behind,’the 9th District Development Model Presidential Imbizo was attended by President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders from all three spheres of government including Ministers,deputy ministers and Provincial premier Oscar Lubabalo Mabuyane.
President Ramaphosa has guaranteed the people of Tsomo in the Chris Hani District Municipality that supplying water to communities is of the most importance to the government. “Imbizo are meant for government to listen to communities whether you have a complaint, you have an opportunity here,” Ramaphosa.
Community members were given a chance to voice out their complaints to the president and amongst other issues mentioned , lack of clean water availability, inadequate sanitation facilities and lack of infrastructure were the most common complaints received from residents.
President Ramaphosa also inspected the Tsomo River Abstraction and Water Treatment Works Project, a cross-boundary water supply project serving multiple districts. This project aims to provide clean water to towns and rural settlements in the Chris Hani District, Amathole District, and Mnquma Local Municipality.
Provincial Premier Oscar Lubabalo Mabuyane showed appreciation to the District Development Model,”Mr president the DDM is shaping very well in our province, yes of course with challenges because there are human beings involved in its implementation. However we constantly improving our cooperation as the 3 spheres of the government and social partners to add agility in implementing agreed upon projects within time frames and budgets,” Mabuyane.
President Ramaphosa’s visit and the DDM Presidential Imbizo have provided a platform for dialogue and cooperation, giving hope to the residents of the Chris Hani District Municipality. With the government’s commitment and the involvement of all stakeholders, the district can overcome its challenges and work towards a brighter and more prosperous future.
