The North West Province is gearing up to host the eagerly anticipated District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo, set to take place on Friday, October 20 at the J.B. Marks Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality. Acting Premier Patrick Dumile Nono Maloyi expressed his warm welcome to the President's decision to revisit the province as part of the second leg of the DDM Presidential Imbizo, saying the significance of this event in the province's ongoing efforts to enhance the lives of North West residents.
The DDM Presidential Imbizo serves as a crucial platform for the President Cyril Ramaphosa, his Cabinet Ministers and provincial leadership to directly engage with communities. This is when the political leadership seeks to identify solutions to residents' daily socio-economic challenges. Furthermore, this initiative focuses on intensifying service delivery programmes, promoting social cohesion, and advancing developmental programmes to create economic opportunities for local communities.
The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality comprises three local municipalities: JB Marks, Matlosana and Maquassi Hills, with a combined population of just over 800 000. The district's economic activities are primarily driven by mining and agriculture, with the N12 Corridor providing an avenue for transporting goods that have the potential to unlock various economic opportunities in the logistics and tourism sectors.
The upcoming DDM Presidential Imbizo follows the commitments made by the provincial government during the first leg of the Imbizo, which took place in Mahikeng last year. This event is particularly timely as the province's integrated Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, known as "Thuntsha Lerole," is in full swing - being held on Fridays - to address various service delivery challenges in municipalities across the province.
As part of the pre-Imbizo programme, government departments and state-owned entities will visit various developmental projects within the District Municipality. These visits will allow residents to engage directly with government officials and discuss the daily challenges they face. Communities surrounding the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality are expected to actively participate in the upcoming DDM Presidential Imbizo.
The event is set to be held at the Ikageng Sports Complex in Potchefstroom under the theme "Leave No One Behind". In his statement, Maloyi highlighted the importance of the DDM Presidential Imbizo as a direct channel for citizens to voice their concerns and collaborate with government officials to find practical solutions.
He underscored the province's commitment to addressing the pressing issues residents face and working together to improve their quality of lives. The Imbizo is a testament to the government's dedication to inclusivity, social development and economic progress.
It is an opportunity for the people of the North West Province to actively participate in shaping their communities and ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey towards a better future. As the date approaches, anticipation continues to grow, and residents eagerly await the chance to engage with their leaders in this vital dialogue.
