South Africa: Over fifteen billion rands worth of investment is coming to the Xhariep District. This is a pronouncement made by Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana during the District Development Model (DDM) anchored visit by Deputy President Paul Mashatile to the small mining town of Jagersfontein in Kopanong Municipality.
The Premier was speaking during a community meeting at the disaster-stricken town where the collapse of the mine dam destroyed the property of residents, leaving many destitute and others losing their lives.
At the centre of the visit was to respond to the burning questions of rebuilding the community that was so devasted by the disaster and to address the harsh economic challenges that continue to see the overwhelming majority unemployed and living in abject poverty.
Working together through the DDM today, all spheres of government responded emphatically to issues of economic and development in Xhariep, Kopanong in particular.
The process of building new homes for the displaced is underway, and today, Deputy President Mashatile visited one of the houses nearing its completion, and he was satisfied with the standard thereof.
Accompanied by EXCO led by the Premier, the Mayor of Kopanong, Councillor Xolani Tseleletse and Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Parks Tau, and Deputy Minister for Trade Industry and Competition, Fikile Majola, the Deputy President visited the water treatment plant and met with Management of the mine who reiterated their commitment to taking full responsibility of the loss of the community and to be at the centre of restoration and rebuilding the community.
Working hand in glove with the municipality, the provincial government through the Department of Economic Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs will soon be launching two mega projects in the district.
Firstly is a solar plant that will bring an estimated six thousand jobs to Xhariep. Secondly, a hemp/ cannabis industrial site will embark on manufacturing a variety of cannabis products, I.e., textile and clothing, medicinal and hygiene products and many others.
Immediately, the Department of Agriculture earmarked four million for agricultural purposes in Kopanong. The funds will be directed toward assisting small-scale farmers who lost some of their livestock, animal feed, water reticulation and fencing.
As a measure to mitigate against drug and alcohol abuse AND other social ill within Jagersfontein and surrounding areas, the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will be commencing with the building of a Multi-purpose Centre in Kopanong.
The provincial government, through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, will kick-start the process that will enable the provincial government to assist the municipality in resolving water provision challenges confronting the municipality, and this is to happen as soon as yesterday.
Deputy President Mashatile established a Project Management Task Team composed of Deputy Ministers, MECs, Mayors, Municipal Officials and experts who will meet regularly and see to the full implementation of all deliverables committed to by all parties involved.
” To rebuild Xhariep, we need to reimagine it, and that begins with letting go of our attachments to the old. We will build an industrial area which will house a variety of companies, among others, soap factories, hemp factories and the agricultural industry.
We are working together with merSITA to develop and upskill our youth. This initiative will greatly empower our communities to be a place of economic activity that has full control of the entire value chain. Through education, we will solve our own problems here at home,” Premier Dukwana Mxolisi.
