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During the State of the Nation Address last year, citizens drew via Facebook President Jacob Zuma’s attention to various challenges in their locality relating to service delivery. In particular, the President received messages from two citizens from uMzimkhulu and Bekkersdal, Mr Bongokuhle Miya and Ms Portia Mrwetyana respectively. Mr Miya complained about sewage overflow in his town, flooding of the town street when it rains, and the prevalence of stray animals on the streets. Since then the town sewerage pipe upgrade is in the final stages of completion, new treatment facilities have been completed, road realignment and storm water system upgrade is under design, and an animal pound is being completed to contain stray animals.

Ms Mrwetyana from Bekkersdal on the other hand complained about a shortage of low-cost housing in her township. When the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Department assessed how government could assist Ms Mrwetyana and her family and community, it was discovered that houses could not be built in the informal settlement where she lives because the land is dolomitic and is subject to sinkholes. Government has begun a programme of resettling Ms Mrwetyana’s community to the neighbouring municipality of Mohlakeng where land is suitable for building houses and providing basic services. Government is confident that her family and the community will soon benefit from the resettlement programme.

Again, this year President Zuma invites South Africans to submit comments that they would like the President to consider mentioning in his State of the Nation Address on Thursday the 9th of February 2012. Submit your comments to the President’s personal Twitter account @SAPresident, or by using #PresidentSona, or, via the Presidency's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PresidencyZA. Emails can also be sent to president@po.gov.za.