The government's Imbizo Focus Week has started. In my opinion, this consultative exercise by government has good intentions.

The government's Imbizo Focus Week has started. In my opinion, this consultative exercise by government has good intentions.

This initiative brings government closer to the people and gives South Africans the opportunity to interrogate government policies.

But my question is how many people take these izimbizo seriously.

Is it not that people see izimbizo as an opportunity to get some free food from government? What happens to the concerns and opinions raised by people during izimbizo?

Are they recorded? Do government departments make follow-ups?

How do our people get responses? Do their concerns ever get to be responded to? In some instances, I know they get to be responded to?

These are questions people ask. What is the media's role? I believe the media has to ensure that there is enough positive coverage of these izimbizo.

My feeling is that the media no longer regard these izimbizo as newsworthy. I therefore want to urge our government and media to close the communication gap.

Both must ensure that issues raised during these meetings are covered for our people to be fully informed about the policies and the government's programme of action.

Patrick Morathi, Mothotlung