In line with promises made during the elections, his inauguration, and his the state-of-the-nation address, Pres Jacob Zuma made a triumphant visit to the Limpopo Province on Monday, and officially launched the multibillion-rand comprehensive rural development at Muyexe village, one of the three poor villages identified as pilot projects.

The village is one of the most rustic remote rural villages next to the Kruger National Park, where basic services are almost nonexistent. The project will ensure that at least one member from each of the 900 households gets a steady job for the next two years.

The mere sight of the president at the village made villagers shout at the top of their voices with joy and excitement. One could read that the impoverished villagers were full of hope that the president was their only hope of survival, who would take them out of their poverty

When the president went to Muyexe primary School to greet learners, both learners and teachers rendered a song in his honour, which went thus: "This is the Zuma we voted for, come rain or high water, we´ll support him." After a learner read a speech which detailed the needs of the learners at the school, the president said: "You are luckier than I, because I did not have a father and therefore did not go to school. Despite my upbringing, I made a resolve to educate myself and I have succeeded. Some of you will one day lead this country."

The president said he came to the village because he was determined to make a difference to the lives of rural people.

When he went to the Macena plantation project, the women mobbed the president.

A local boy, who also got the chance to shake the president´s hand, said:" I will not touch anything today because I have touched the president´s hand."

A local teacher, Mr John Mahosi, said the changes in village since Zuma came into power have been phenomenal. A soccer team for both men and women has been started. Street committees have been formed to facilitate development and each committee comprises 34 households. “Each group has been allocated R320 000 for a development project of their choice," said Mahosi.

Several poor families are receiving food parcels and they also get supplies of water from water tanks.

The president has identified Muyeshe, Dingamazi and Gon´on´o in the Giyani area as pilot projects in rural development since they are neglected and poor. He has pledged to deal a hammer blow to rural poverty.

After visiting the different projects, the president moved to the local soccer field where thousands of villagers were waiting for him to address them.

Zuma said the promises of bettering the lives of the rural poor they had made on several occasions were not just a hoax but a reality. “We have made a commitment as government to better the lives of our rural people and we are happy today to bring that undertaking into fruition,” he said.

Zuma said government would never rest as long as there were some rural dwellers who still found themselves not able to make a decent living out of the land on which they lived. “Being born in a rural area should not condemn people to a life of poverty and underdevelopment; people in rural areas have the right to basic necessities. They have the right to shopping centres, good schools, electricity, flush toilets, roads, entertainment and sport centres,” he said.

Zuma added that rural people had the right to be helped with farming, so that they could grow vegetables and raise livestock to feed their families.