Steynsburg finally garners attention

MANY believe that the impoverished community of Steynsburg, under the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, is being rejected and neglected regarding development and service delivery.

The community is characterised by a high unemployment rate and high level of crime. The community lives below the poverty line.

The Steynsburg cries have finally woken the master.

It was a great relief to learn that Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land reform and Rural development Mcebisi Skwatsha has roped in other stakeholders hear the life struggles of the people.

The deputy minister brought five deputy ministers from various national departments, three MECS, mayors and non-profit organisations who rallied behind his coalition to bring services and development to the disgruntled Steynsburg community during the outreach programme which was held at the Indoor Sports Centre.

Deputy Minister Sdumo Dlamini pledged that the department under his portfolio would roll out rural development programmes and a rural ICT programme aimed at youth development, while Deputy Minister Pam Tshwete applauded Skwatsha for seeing the need to help the community.

The Department of Human Settlements brought 200 food parcels for poor households and pledged to bring housing. Deputy Minister David Mahlobo pledged that the department of Water and Sanitation would speed up the process of bringing water to the people.

The deputy ministers who pledged their intended roles included the Deputy Minister of Labour, Deputy Minister of police, Castle Mathale and the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Pinky Kekana.

The outreach programme also provided an opportunity for residents of Steynsburg to interact with government on several issues such as land, water and sanitation, employment and human settlements, to mention a few. The outreach programme saw Gift of the Givers pledging to bring a soup kitchen to the community. MPHAHLELA M RAMMUTLA | Pretoria