Cyril Ramaphosa visited Port St. Johns on Tuesday, 28 March 2023 after floods that shook the economy and people’s lives.
The president of South Africa paid a tribute to the town by being the first president to ever visit the town after floods that claimed lives and shook the local economy.
During his briefing at the town hall, his excellency shared his heartfelt condolences while recognising the potential of the town to become the next smart town.
“We are now being hit by disaster after disaster across the country and I am beginning to see a good level of activity. We will reach a good level of preparedness, but the most important part is what I have seen in the town of Port St. Johns, the future smart city.
Everybody has always said this town is well positioned to be a smart city and I saw for myself as we were flying over it, time and again. I am glad that I believe in it and I would like to be still around to see these changes take place, which we shall do together hand in hand.” Said the president.
On opening remarks of the Port St. Johns Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Nomvuzo Mlombile, she voiced out her pride in the visit and good hopes about the city by his excellency.
We are going to achieve this dream of being the smart city. This is an opportunity for this town, it is going to rise as we witness it from these ashes and become the best city that the president will be proud of as it will become the first city to be made under him.
His excellency is the first president to touch ground in the town since the year 1994. “We are really proud to be in his presence, this disaster has turned out to be a blessing for us.”
