Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola has donated 4,000 face- masks manufactured by inmates — to the Bulelani and Lingelihle Senior Secondary schools where he encouraged the learners to continue working hard on their studies to become more productive members of society.
During a visit in the Chris Hani District area, situated in the Eastern Cape, Lamola said the government will not be able to adequately address societal challenges such as gender-based violence and femicide, poverty, crime and unemployment on its own.
“As the government, we realised that services are at times not rolled out in line with the expectations of our people. We have therefore improved on our planning, resulting in different spheres working together in a coordinated approach to make service delivery easier and better,” he said.
The minister’s visit to the area was part of his work as the “district development model champion” for the district. The district development model is a government programme aimed at improving the coherence and effect of government service delivery, focusing on 44 districts and eight metros about the country. Through the model, the government wants to fast-track service delivery and ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and resourced to carry out their mandates.
The minister said he will be focusing his energies on the Chris Hani district to unlock its economic potential to create a conducive environment for development and job creation, as well as ensuring that services reach people.“We are committed to ensuring that this district becomes a hub of service delivery and a node of economic growth,” he said.
Addressing pupils at Bulelani, Lamola said: “Do not allow yourself to be discouraged by the circumstances which Covid-19 has brought on the academic year — you can still make it ”. In addition,he also encouraged the pupils to take advantage of bursaries offered by various institutions and government departments, including correctional services.
