Govt not doing enough for the poor: Mbeki

Mbeki was addressing a Workers' Indaba in Midrand today

President Thabo Mbeki says government has failed to provide sufficient support to community developers who help the poor. The President said this led to massive under-spending each year. He was addressing a Workers’ Indaba in Midrand today.

It is hoped that the community development workers will help to speed up service delivery. They are expected to help stimulate economic development at grassroots level.

“We must always remember that we do not sit in positions of government in order to fill our pockets at the expense of the people,” says Mbeki.

If the work of the community development workers is successful, local economic growth will be boosted - and that means reducing dependency on grants.

This indaba may be seen as a sort of reconnaissance mission to be taken back to the national anti-poverty war room.