Deputy President Mashatile conducts a two-day visit to O.R. Tambo District and Buffalo City Metro in the Eastern Cape Province

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Friday, 26 and Saturday, 27 May 2023, undertake a two-day oversight visit to the Eastern Cape Province in both the O.R. Tambo District and Buffalo City Metro municipalities, as part of efforts to improve the functioning of municipalities and providing solutions to challenges facing communities through the District Development Model (DDM).  
 
As part of his delegated functions, Deputy President Mashatile is assisting the President in the roll-out of the District Development Model, a flagship mechanism adopted by Government to drive effective coordination of different spheres of Government for impactful service delivery.  
 
On the 26th of May, the Deputy President and delegation will be in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality, at Lusikisiki in Ingquza Hill Local Municipality. He will provide feedback to the communities on the implementation of the District Development Model since its launch in 2019, focusing on progress achieved to improve service delivery, reduce crime, and fight gender-based violence in the area.

The Deputy President will also engage with the Local Business Forum, with the aim to strengthen partnership between Government and the private sector to further unlock economic opportunities in areas such as eco-tourism, the oceans economy, agriculture, oil and gas development, and mining, among others.

On the 27th of May, the Deputy President and delegation will proceed to the Buffalo City Metropolitan municipality to engage with business representatives, small-scale farmers and farm workers.
 
The engagement with the farming community will take place at the Ncera Macadamia Farming Initiative, which produces and sells macadamia nuts on the open market. The visit to the Macadamia project by Deputy President Mashatile will highlight the importance of this initiative in building sustainable socio-economic development opportunities for the surrounding communities, through multi-stakeholder partnerships, since 2005.
 
The Deputy President will then pay a courtesy call on the Rharhabe Kingdom, to further engage with Eastern Cape Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, where he is expected to provide feedback on the implementation of commitments made through the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders.
 
Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu; Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms Boitumelo Moloi; Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Nokuzola Capa; Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Sisisi Tolashe; Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale; Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe; Premier of the Eastern Cape Province, Mr Oscar Mabuyane; Members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Council; Municipal Mayors and senior Government officials.

Members of the media are invited to cover the visit as follows:

Date: Friday, 26 May 2023
Venue: O.R. Tambo District Municipality, Lusikisiki, Ingquza Hill Local Municipality

Media Programme

09h00 - 11h00: Engagement with the Local Business Forum
Venue: Lusikisiki Health Resource Centre

11h15 - 11h45 Visit to Lusikisiki Village Clinic (National Health Insurance facility)

12h30 - 13h00: Visit to Hombe White Door Centre of Hope

13h45 - 16h30: Community Engagement on Government response in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide
Venue: Zalu Sports-ground

(For more information and accreditation please contact Bongani Majola on 082 339 1993 or Linah Ledwaba on 066 240 7635)
 
Date: Saturday, 27 May 2023
Venue: Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, East London

Media Programme

07h00 – 09h00: Engagement with the Local Business Forum
Venue: East London International Convention Centre

10h30 – 12h30: Courtesy call on the Rharhabe Kingdom
Venue: Mngqesha Great Place

14h00 -17h00 Visit to Ncera Macadamia Farm
Venue: Imidushane Great Place

For more information and accreditation please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Tshiamo Selomo on 066 118 1505
 

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 081 307 9233
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria