Author: cogta_adm

 The KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Sihle Zikalala alongside MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sipho Hlomuka, welcomed the appointment of the new Msunduzi local municipality office bearers. The swearing-in took place on Thursday 29 August 2019, the ceremony was led by KwaZulu Natal Judge President A. Jappie at the Pietermaritzburg Town Hall, where a special council seating was held. 

Premier Zikalala during his address said the communities have placed their trust in the hands of the council. The Municipality needs to make sure they deliver quality services to the communities. “Councilors must be exemplary and ensure that they do not get involved in activities that will bring the Msunduzi Municipal Council into disrepute,” said Premier Zikalala.  

The newly elected office bearers are Cllr Mzimkhulu Thebolla who is the new Mayor of uMsunduzi Local Municipality; Cllr Manilal Inderjit as Deputy Mayor; Cllr Eunice Majola-Zondi Speaker. 

The newly appointed Mayor Thebolla in his address said this marks a new beginning and a whole new chapter for the Msunduzi Local Municipality. “We invite the opposition in the municipality to work with us as we work in earnest to put the Municipality on the right track,” said Mayor Thobolla.

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The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has congratulated the newly elected office bearers at the Msunduzi Local Municipality following their election this afternoon during a special council sitting at the Pietermaritzburg Town Hall.

Today the Msunduzi Municipal Council elected; Cllr Mzimkhulu Thebolla as Mayor, Cllr Manilal Inderjit as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Eunice Majola-Zondi as the Speaker and Cllr Vusi Ntshangase as the Chief Whip.

The Provincial Government appreciated the vibrancy and the cordial spirit with which the councillors conducted themselves which ensured a democratic and peaceful installation of the new EXCO.

Delivering a message of support to the council, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala, read the riot act challenging the councillors to fashion a new development trajectory for the people of uMsunduzi.

“The time for negative headlines in this municipality must come to an end.  As you ascend to these positions of responsibility you must create a prosperous city where no child goes to bed hungry, all potholes are fixed, refuse is collected, the neighbourhood is cleaned and the citizens are proud of their municipality”.

Zikalala committed the provincial government in providing hands-on support to the incoming EXCO and council.  He urged councillors to work together in the implementation of the turnaround plan as developed by the administrator of the Municipality.

”We expect only the best from this council.  It is time to reclaim the glory days of this important municipality,” said Zikalala.

The Provincial Government placed the uMsunduzi Municipality under administration earlier this year following numerous challenges that were threatening to destabilise this important council.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka has vowed to strengthen the capacity of Msunduzi to manage its own affairs exercise their powers and perform their functions and implored the councillors to hit the ground running and attend to all the immediate concerns of the community

“The office bearers elected today have been entrusted with are a very important mandate and we look forward to working with them in taking our communities forward. We expect that the new leadership will hit the ground running and restore the confidence of the people back to this municipality through quality service,” said Hlomuka.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka, has called upon municipalities in the province to prioritise the empowerment of women and the youth. Hlomuka made these remarks today at the Sectoral Dialogue on Women Empowerment in the Greater Kokstad local municipality.

“It is important that we empower women, especially those in our rural areas. As the government, we want to see women playing an active role in growing the economy of our province. We want to see our municipalities taking the lead in ensuring that they source services from local businesses, particularly those that are owned by women and the youth,” said Hlomuka.

The Mayor of Greater Kokstad Cllr B. Mtolo and the District Mayor of Harry Gwala Cllr N. Maphasa-Duma attended the Dialogue. The mayors committed themselves to continuing with programmes, like these, that are aimed at empowering women.

Officials from various government departments, including Agriculture, Economic Development, Human Settlements, and Arts and Culture also shared their women empowerment programmes.

“There is a variety of opportunities offered to women by this government. The department offers bursaries in Town and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, Project Management, etc, and we encourage black women to take interest in these male-dominated fields and start forming companies in order to benefit from projects provided by the department,” said Mduduzi Nhlozi from Human Settlements.

The gathering was a precursor to the Operation Sukuma Sakhe visit to all the wards in the Greater Kokstad local municipality by the KZN Premier and members of his cabinet tomorrow, 28 August. The large delegation will interact with communities on various service delivery issues.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila 082 474 1882

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KZN Provincial Government has congratulated the winners and participants of this year’s Mandela Day Marathon whose main 42 km race today once again followed the iconic route between Edendale and the Mandela Capture Site outside Howick for the eighth time since 2012.

“The human spirit has triumphed once again as the 20 000 registered athletes from all over the globe competed in various disciplines in the uMgungundlovu district where the late former President Nelson Mandela was arrested 57 years ago by the apartheid police,” said KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala.

The winners of the main 42 km race Muhajr Haredin Sraj (Ethiopian) in the men’s category and Sofiya Shemsu Chegen (Ethiopia) in the women’s category. Chegen broke the women’s record with 2:45:21. Haredin and Chegen are a married couple.  The winners of the 21 km race are Joel Mmane in the men’s category and Rutendo Nyahora in the women’s category.

The first KZN runners in the 42 is former champion Thobani Chagwe in the men’s category and Sanelisiwe Mbanjwa, and the first South Africans were Ntshindiso Mphakathi in the Men’s and Sanelisiwe Mbanjwa.

The second and third in the main 42 km race are Wondwosen  Ketema Mamo (Ethiopia) and Teboho Noosi (Lesotho), respectively, in the men’s race and Salem  Abere Alebachew and Sanelisiwe Mbanjwa respectively, in the women’s race.

“The Mandela Day Marathon has again demonstrated our unrivalled capacity to organise world-class sporting events that not only bring people together for a common purpose but also provide much needed economic incentives for our communities and municipalities in KZN,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Sipho Hlomuka.

The annual Mandela Day Marathon aims to celebrate and preserve the legacy of the late former President Nelson Mandela but also provide business and job opportunities for the local communities in the uMgungundlovu district. The marathon is also helping to market KZN as a tourist destination.

“Our warm congratulations go to all winners and participants of this year’s marathon. As exciting as it is to win a sporting event of this nature, the best experience is to participate and share in its communal spirit. We also applaud all visitors to the province who have come to support these athletes,” said uMgungundlovu District Mayor Cllr Thobekile Maphumulo.

The eighth edition of the Mandela Day Marathon has exceeded all expectations in terms of participants’ numbers which had to be capped in the interest of runners’ safety and facilities available to athletes and observers. The 2019 marathon has also once again benefited from a major sponsorship deal with ABSA. Results of other races are available at

www.mandeladm.org.za

For more information, please contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403

Date: 25 August 2019

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has condemned the assassination attempt on uKhahlamba Municipal Speaker, Cllr Sthembiso Zulu.  Reports received indicate that the speaker was shot at while on the way home from work. The municipal vehicle he was using was shot at eleven times. The Speaker escaped with minor injuries.

MEC Hlomuka has expressed shock at this assassination attempt on the Speaker and said that the recent spate of violence directed at public representatives in municipalities must stop.

“We are dismayed at the news of an attempt on the life of yet another councillor in the province, shortly as the province is still licking its wounds following the brutal assassination of Councilor Mthembeni Majola from Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality in the same district.

“It pains me to even try and understand what could cause people to embark on such a senseless deed against a representative of our people. This is indeed shocking. We are finding this difficult to comprehend,” said Hlomuka.

“Violence against councillors is becoming a disturbing trend which requires urgent attention. We call on all our people to be in the forefront of protecting our councillors. Violence is deplorable and must be universally condemned”.

Hlomuka has expressed a hope that the law will take its course and that the perpetrators of this attempted murder – whoever they are – will be apprehended soon by the law enforcement agencies to be brought to justice.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila 0824741882.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has called on men across the province to take their place in the fight against the abuse of women and children. Hlomuka made this appeal during a meeting with mayors, councillors, amakhosi and civic organisations in the Harry Gwala district, at the Morningside Community Hall in Ixopo.

During the meeting, Hlomuka received a report from the District Task Team chairperson on the status of Operation Sukuma Sakhe. This is a ward-based initiative aimed at speeding up government’s response to the needs of communities through War Rooms which are attended by municipal officials and officials from various government departments.

In his remarks, Hlomuka voiced his concerns about the 68 instances of sexual abuse that were reported over three months in the district. “It is very concerning that we have such incidents in our communities where our women and children are victims to the scourge of sexual abuse. We all must play our part in fighting this. The perpetrators should be arrested and families that shield them should also face the same fate,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka also condemned the lawless act of ukuThwala, where women are kidnapped and forced into marriage by families. “This cowardly act is a crime against humanity and, as leaders, we must work with our communities to ensure that there are consequences for those who undermine the rights of women and children,” said Hlomuka.

The MEC has also welcomed the hard work being done under the OSS banner in this district where over 85% of wards have functional War Rooms.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila 082 474 1882

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka today visited the Beachway informal settlement in Clermont Ward 22 in  eThekwini, where a fire destroyed 18 shacks killing a mother, Samkelisiwe Ngxolo (17) and her two children Oluhle (3) and Sanokuhle (6 months), and left 30 people homeless.

Hlomuka paid his respects to the Ngxolo family as he visited Xoliswa Ngxolo who is the aunt of the deceased mother who told of her despair on Tuesday morning when, while she was walking her son to school, she got a call informing her that her shack was on fire and that her niece and her children were all dead.

“Tuesday is a day I will never forget. It is when I lost three members of my family,” she said. Hlomuka comforted her and assured her that the provincial government, together with the eThekwini metro, will do all they can to ensure that adequate support is provided which includes the funeral arrangements for her loved ones. “The scenes that greeted us this morning are truly heartbreaking. The loss of three lives in such an abrupt manner!” – said Hlomuka.

During his visit to the area, Hlomuka who was accompanied by Disaster Management teams from the province and the Thekwini metro, assured the fire victims that support would be ongoing to ensure that they are able to return to normal life as some of them have lost essential documents such as IDs. “Additionally, we are in contact with Human Settlements and they will be providing materials which can be used by the affected families to put up temporary structures. We have also distributed interim relief aid which includes blankets, nonperishable food and clothing items” said Hlomuka.

The MEC has also urged residents across the province to exercise great caution more especially those residing in informal settlements, as during winter incidents like these are very prone. “We all need to play our part and ensure that we protect ourselves and our loved ones by ensuring that we use caution when using candles or any flammable product as they can cause serious damage when left unattended,” said Hlomuka.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila, 082 474 1882

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Website: www.kzncogta.gov.za

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The community of Shikishela in Ward 15 of the Mtubatuba local municipality will soon have uninterrupted supply of water. This is thanks KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka who yesterday visited this community together with uMkhanyakude Mayor Cllr Solomon Mkhombo and local Mayor Cllr Gumede to officially announce the contractor who will be undertaking the work of reviving the Mpukunyoni Water scheme which will benefit 27 000 people in this municipality.

The scope of this work, which is valued at R17-million, includes the installation of new pumps and the rehabilitation of 14 boreholes. This community had in the past couple of weeks become a hotspot for protests as residents blockaded roads, including the N2, and burned tyres while protesting for water. Hlomuka yesterday addressed the local community leaders, including councillors, amakhosi, ward committee members and izinduna at the Mgeza Tribal Authority just outside Mtubatuba.

The MEC vowed to ensure that the uMkhanyakude district, which is a water service authority, implements the plan, which was outlined to the community. The plan will see taps running with water in a very short space of time. “The plans that are being outlined today are not just fancy talk but are being followed up with practical steps and we expect the service provider to be on the ground in no time dealing with reviving this important water scheme so that our people can benefit,” said Hlomuka.

The meeting was also joined by representatives from the Ithendele coal mine, which has been operating in the area since 2006. The management of the mine promised to make available 30 000 litres of water a day to community members from one of its boreholes. The mine also promised to fix the road that leads to the borehole so that water tankers can easily access it and it will also supply a plumber to fix any leaks. Hlomuka welcomed this gesture by the leadership of the mine, which prides itself in working hand in hand with the community.

HLOMUKA PAYS FOLLOW UP VISIT TO MHLABUYALINGANA RESIDENTS

Afterwards Hlomuka met with the communities of Skhemelele, Mtikini and Scabazini in the uMhlabuyalingana local municipality. This follows the protest in the area which took place last Monday where Cogta MEC addressed protesters and vowed to come back in less than a week to provide the community with answers as they had been protesting over the unavailability of water in their area. Hlomuka who was accompanied by the uMkhanyakude Mayor informed the community of short-term measures taken by his department which include the provision of two water tankers. These started last week to deliver water to the affected areas.

District Mayor Cllr Mkhombo also informed residents of similar short-term relief plans, which include the rationing of water supply to the affected areas so that communities can get access to water. “We are still working on a long-term solution of installing bigger-sized pipes, the construction of a 1 million litre water storage facility in the Mtikini School and a water distribution network. All of these are being finalised in the coming months,” said Mkhombo.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila, 082 474 1882

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Website: www.kzncogta.gov.za

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has condemned in the strongest possible terms the explosion that shook the Msunduzi City Hall today as Cogta-appointed administrator of the municipality Sbu Sithole was to present a confidential report.

KZN Cogta MEC has a called for an urgent investigation into the incident. The department will continue to support uMsunduzi municipality and everyone who is serious about restoring it to full functionality. The administration of the municipality remains in place until there is tangible improvement in Msunduzi’s fortunes.

“This is an act of terrorism, pure and simple. We cannot allow unknown assailants to paralyse our local government institutions and intimidate our officials and the general public. What happened in Pietermaritzburg today has no place in a civilised society,” said an indignant Hlomuka.

“We will not be intimidated by actions of individuals who seek to create chaos and sow discord. Our role is to support municipalities in this province and this is what we will continue to do. However, we urge all our and municipal officials to take the necessary safety precautions going forward,” said Hlomuka.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokesperson Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403

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