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Premier Mabuza hands out Christmas gifts

MPUMALANGA Premier David Mabuza honoured his commitment and returned to a poverty-stricken community he visited during the election campaign early this year to hand out food parcels and clothing as Christmas gifts on Saturday.

Accompanied by Mkhondo municipality administrator Misaveni Khoza and Banengi women's mining company chief executive Savannah Maziya, Mabuza handed food parcels and clothing to more than 300 families.

When he addressed community members Mabuza reminded them that he had seen the real poverty that they were faced with at the beginning of the year.

"I was here during the election campaign early this year and saw the difficulties you face because of poverty," Mabnuza said.

"I committed myself to coming back to find a solution for you. You have already seen developments starting in your area and today I'm here to give you Christmas presents."

He said during the election campaign he was forced to walk along footpaths to reach as many people as possible and that was when he realised the community was suffering and discovered the extent of their poverty..

Community members use cow-dung to polish their floors and they carry water as well as firewood for long distances .

The premier reminded the community that schools and clinics were going to be built in the area in a bid to curb poverty.

"That is why we launched the comprehensive rural development programme in this area in October," Mabuza said.

Maziya told residents that she and her colleagues would make sure that people were self-sustaining by creating job opportunities for them.

"We won't rest, we will make sure you become sustainable," Maziya said.

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