By: Paseka Menyau
 |
| Lechesa Tsenoli, Deputy minister of Rural Development and land reform at Jacobsdal. |
Land claims and distribution was high on the agenda of Lechesa Tsenoli, Rural Development deputy minister, when he visited the Xhariep District last week.
Tsenoli's visit was a follow up to an earlier visit this year by deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to Jacobsdal.
Jacobsdal is one of the poorest townships in the Free State, Tsenoli said adding that they as a department would like to change that.
"We came as a department to introduce ourselves to you, and support you with whatever challenges you are facing and work together to come up with the best solutions," said Tsenoli
Amongst the promises he made was closer cooperation between his department and local communities to help alleviate poverty and create much-needed jobs.
"People of Jacobsdal were promised land were their houses are going to be build, but the homes were not build due to lack of surveyed land, and we can confirm that there are those who got their land, and those that didn't get their land," said Tsenoli
At least one resident complained of the lack of support to unemployed locals by government.
"Women in Jacobsdal have talent but they are not using it because they don't have resources. We are asking the department to build facilities where we will put our talent to use," Nothando Dlomo, a 66-year-old resident of the town, said.
Another resident, 26-year-old Maria Scheepers, complained bitterly about lack of facilities to keep the youth busy.
"The youth of Jacobsdal need facilities to keep them busy, and make sure that they focus on empowering themselves. Right now the youth has nothing keeping them busy and they end-up using drugs and violence," she said.
Tsenoli assured residents their grievances would be attended to and every effort would be taken to find solutions.
"We have identified a sight next to the library, where we are going to build a clinic so that people don't have to walk for long distances to get treatment.
"We are also proud to announce that there's a new hospital that is under construction, you won't have to travel to Bloemfontein to get 24-hour medical treatment," he said
He said construction on a new sport facility, which will include a swimming pool, would commence in January and not only will it cater for young and old but it would be user-friendly for the disabled as well.
