President Thabo Mbeki will meet members of the Johannesburg public at a two-day imbizo (meeting) this weekend.
His programme includes a community imbizo at the Safa-Simba Stadium in Klipspruit on Saturday afternoon, where residents will discuss their concerns directly with him, Gauteng government spokesperson Annette Griesel said on Tuesday.
Mbeki’s visit is part of the Gauteng presidential imbizo, an effort by the government to meet local communities.
Gauteng is the smallest province, but the second most densely populated after KwaZulu-Natal. Its economic hub, Johannesburg, continues to lure residents from across the country.
According to the province, the high levels of migration from within South Africa remains one of its key challenges. Other problems include high levels of crime, the effects of HIV/Aids, upgrading the province’s many sprawling informal settlements, and translating economic growth into employment growth — according to the province’s midterm report for 2004 to 2006.
Mbeki’s visit will include a stop at the infamous Europa Hotel in Hillbrow, once a haven for criminals and prostitutes, but now part of the Better Buildings Programme to clean up the inner city. He will also visit the Gautrain portal at Park station.
He will travel to the Orlando Stadium in Soweto — earmarked as a 2010 World Cup training facility — and attend a June 16 veterans’ ceremony in Diepkloof, Soweto.
The president’s meeting with the business sector, through the Johannesburg Business Forum, will include talks about constraints to investment, transport and infrastructure.
The imbizo will conclude with a closed meeting of the three spheres of government: local, provincial and national.
Mbeki will be accompanied by Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, ministers and officials. — Sapa