S. Africa Presidency says gov't attentive to public concerns

The South African Presidency on Friday rejected allegations that the government pays attention to public concerns only when there is violence and mayhem.

"The Presidency rejects inaccurate statements made by some commentators in the media stating that there is violence during protests because that is the language that government understands and also that government does not go to the people," presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

There can never be justification for violence and anarchy, Ngqulunga said in reference to recent violent protests over poor service delivery.

The Presidency made the statement shortly after President Jacob Zuma returned after "a successful state visit to Qatar" before proceeding to Alice in the Eastern Cape Province to attend the centenary celebrations of the University of Fort Hare.

The university has this week been beset by violent protests over funding, with some student bodies calling for the jubilee to be postponed.

The government continuously engages communities on its programmes and continues to listen and respond to their concerns, Ngqulunga said.

The President holds several public meetings per year as well, including the Presidential Siyahlola Monitoring Programme where he undertakes hands on monitoring of service delivery in communities, the Presidential Imbizo programme of listening to communities and also the Presidential Infrastructure Programme where he engages communities when opening infrastructure projects, said the spokesperson.

The Deputy President also holds many meetings yearly focusing on the fight against poverty amongst others, added Ngqulunga.

He said the government also holds public meetings where ministers and deputy ministers visit communities in a more intensive manner. Enditem