Vhembe District Municipality has resolved to continue to work well with all journalists as they believe that one should not pick a fight with someone whose work is to use ink every day.

Journalists should also justify their existence by working accurately and they should reflect the reality of life. This includes the achievements of the government and they should not only focus on the challenges, said Vhembe District Mayor Falaza Mdaka when addressing journalists during the Vhembe Media Conference in Muofhe Graceland Lodge and Conference Centre on Friday night.

He also added that reporters should continue to produce good stories, backing them with facts, statistics and evidence. "The Vhembe District Municipality is a democratic institution that always accounts to its citizens." He said they were really looking for media serving as the last check of democracy and were mostly looking for what they regard as real.

Mdaka announced the tabling of the more than R1,3 billion budget of 2011/2012 of the Vhembe District Municipality. He indicated that the district had prioritised water as one of the aspects to be addressed urgently. “We are happy to announce that the laying of water pipes in the Nandoni to Malamulele area is almost complete. We are ready to serve the poor people who voted us into office,” added Mdaka.

He said as many roads in the district were damaged by heavy rains in the beginning of the year, his municipality had set aside R263 million for repairing potholes and re-gravelling the streets before the end of the financial year.

Ms Tidimalo Chuene of Limpopo’s Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) stated that their role is to provide strategic leadership in government communication and coordinate a government communication system that ensures the public is informed about government ‘s policies, plans and programmes.

“We want to ensure that the government’s five priorities are promoted and implemented, such as the creation of decent work, improved quality of basic education, health care for all South Africans, reduction of crime, rural development, land reform, food production and security. We also coordinate the Government Communication Forum, provincially and locally and also market the Thusong Services Centre (previously the multi-purpose community center), so that poor rural communities may have access to government services right at their doorstep,” said Chuene.