Imbizos should not be just gatherings where community members interact with the government. There must be monitoring teams that are set up to make sure that what has been said really becomes reality. This was the general view of community members who filled the Tshikombani Stadium to capacity when the Minister of Public Works, Thokho Didiza, visited the area on Wednesday last week.

People complained about poor road conditions, shortage of RDP houses, unemployment, corruption in government institutions and the need to supply more electricity and running water to rural communities. They also requested the minister to assist community projects to access funds for self-sustainability. The Imbizo became hotter when businesspeople complained about the corruption on the issuing of tenders in municipalities and government departments.

Minister Didiza said it was the mandate of the government to correct some of the mistakes they committed in the past. "We agree that we might have made mistakes in the past, but they were not intentional. That is why we are here today to listen to your views. There are other good things that we did for our communities and we believe you will appreciate them. You need to come up with proposals to improve life where you stay because this is your government."

Didiza added that there is a need for the government to join hands with communities to address challenges that face South Africa today. "In 2004 we, the government, made a contract with the communities to fight unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment. We agreed that we would strive more to rectify the mistakes of the past and that is why we are here today."