The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

05/18/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/18/2023 04:12

President Ramaphosa leads District Development Model Presidential Imbizo in Western Cape

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Friday, 19 May 2023, engage with citizens, community-based organisations and businesses in the Cape Winelands District Municipality, which is an important centre of South Africa's agricultural sector and export economy.

The Cape Winelands District Municipality includes agricultural, industrial and tourism assets around towns such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, Worcester, Tulbagh, Robertson and Montagu.

The area also features academic and innovation infrastructure, including the University of Stellenbosch.

The President's visit to the district will be concentrated around Paarl - seat of the Drakenstein Local Municipality - where community members and stakeholder groups will be able to put questions to the President and leaders from the national, provincial and local spheres of Government during an open-mic session at the Dal Josaphat Athletics Stadium.

This session will follow a visit by the President to the nearby Vlakkeland catalytic human settlement project.

To date, R248 million has been spent on this project where 432 houses have been completed and construction is underway on a further 323. More than 180 local workers are employed at this site.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied at the stadium engagement by Ministers - including Cape Winelands District Champion and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and provincial and district leadership.

Tomorrow's Imbizo will be the sixth of its kind since President Ramaphosa gave an undertaking in his February 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he will interact with communities in all provinces.

The Imbizo series is themed "Leave No-One Behind" in line with Government's collaboration with all sectors of society to transform the country through a sustainable, equitable and inclusive economy.

A number of Government departments and services will stage an exhibition and allow residents to enroll for any public services they may need.

The Imbizo programme is as follows:

President visits Vlakkeland Housing Project

Time: 10h30

Engagement with community members

Time: 11h30
Venue: Dal Josaphat Athletics Stadium

The media accreditation process has been finalised by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria