Northern KZN welcomes Mbeki
2004-01-30 14:46
Ingwavuma - President Thabo Mbeki received a rousing welcome when he arrived at Ingwavuma in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
Thousands of people arrived at Phungaza Secondary School for their chance to meet the president.
The gathered crowd thanked Mbeki for visiting the area and giving them the opportunity to talk to him. They asked Mbeki for jobs and more development in the area.
Mbeki said the apartheid government had purposefully left people in areas like Ingwavuma where their were no opportunities and it must be remembered that the legacy of 300 years will not be solved in a decade.
KwaZulu-Natal premier Lionel Mtshali, however, scolded the crowd for complaining. He asked why it was that people only complained when the president was in their province and accused them of telling lies.
"I am concerned that when the president is in the province people tell lies. I don't know why people are complaining."
The proceedings in Ingwavuma ended with the singing of the national anthem.
The president and his delegation, which includes Agricultural Minister Thoko Didiza, were to travel to Mahlabathini, near Nongoma, for the final imbizo of the day.
The first two meetings due to be held in Hlabisa had to be cancelled due to bad weather. Officials said that rain made it impossible for the president to fly there and had also made the roads inaccessible.
- SAPA