Zikalala Urges Municipalities to Collaborate with Locals to Protect Public Infrastructure

The upcoming Presidential Imbizo in Ekurhuleni aligns with the District Development Model, which aims to enable integrated and responsive planning, implementation, and budgeting.

Municipalities have been called upon to consistently work alongside communities to maintain and protect public assets and infrastructure. Speaking on Tuesday ahead of the District Developmental Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo in Ekurhuleni, Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala emphasized the importance of cooperation between all levels of government and local communities to ensure consistent and aggressive pursuit of community development.

Zikalala highlighted that such collaboration is crucial for expanding and strengthening the country's economy. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit Tsakani, Ekurhuleni, on Friday, marking his first service delivery-focused visit in Gauteng under the seventh administration of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The upcoming Presidential Imbizo in Ekurhuleni aligns with the District Development Model, which aims to enable integrated and responsive planning, implementation, and budgeting.

"It is good to attend Imbizo, but what is critical is to have councillors working with people in their respective wards. What is important is to have Members of Parliament working with people in their constituencies and Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and MECs working with people to support the Districts and Metros," Zikalala stated.

He stressed the need for energetic support for communities in their developmental and economic efforts and expressed strong criticism of any failures in service delivery to communities.

As part of his pre-Presidential Imbizo engagements, Zikalala visited two sites in the Ekurhuleni Metro. In Vosloorus Township, he participated in road patching and stormwater clearing at Phumulani. He also visited an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) wetland project at Benoni Lake, where he took part in clearing alien invasive vegetation and removing litter and debris from the dam.

Zikalala's visit underscored the importance of active government involvement in addressing local infrastructure challenges and supporting community-led initiatives.