​In a show of force, all spheres of government descended on Sedibeng District Municipality for a week-long programme to resolve service delivery challenges in the area.
Government's interventions culminated with a meeting with residents, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa as part of the Presidential Imbizo.
President Ramaphosa was accompanied by Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, Mayors, and officials who responded to all issues raised and noted matters for follow-up. 
The Sedibeng District Municipality comprises the Emfuleni, Midvaal, and Lesedi local municipality.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed residents' concerns and assessed the implementation of the "One District, One Plan" approach under the District Development Model (DDM).
The President said this was not just another talk shop and committed to ensuring that residents' issues are addressed.
"The DDM is a break with the past that we have had and here at local level, at district level, it is aimed at making sure that our communities who have felt neglected in the past are part of the whole process of resolving the challenges as they are properly and fully consulted.
"Ministers will keep going back to those areas where there are issues they have to address. This goes to show that we treat these types of engagements with you in this type of Imbizo very seriously and we want to be able to follow up on the issues that you have raised." 
The community members bemoaned the state of road infrastructure, housing backlog, unemployment, scholar transport, sewerage which spills into their households and poor service delivery.
In response, President Ramaphosa said the government is determined to resolve the challenges facing the community.
Addressing the critical issue of unemployment, The President said the high unemployment rate in the region would be addressed with the introduction of the Gauteng government's bold plan of the Vaal Special Economic Zone which aims for the revitalisation of industry thereby resulting in employment opportunities for the community.
"By far unemployment is the biggest challenge. The Gauteng government has ambitious plans to revitalise Sedibeng by developing agriculture, by developing logistics, tourism and industries as well. These plans are pivoted around the Vaal SEZ which we have heard has the potential of creating up to 170 000 jobs over the next few years.
"That is a serious number of jobs that will be created right here in Sedibeng," he said.
On housing, President Ramaphosa said the Human Settlements Department – which has seven mega projects in the area – will look into complaints from the people living in hostels.
"I believe that from housing, the Minister [of Human Settlements Mamoloko Kubayi has conceded that over many years, we have not paid attention to our hostels. Many of our people still live in hostels and we have basically neglected them. I'd like to see us go to those hostels and revamp them and even go to those apartments where there is water and sewerage and revamp them," he said.
"Our municipalities must pay attention to what needs to be done so that our people live with dignity. We want to see an improvement in the lives of our people from a service delivery point of view from now on," President Ramaphosa said.