Author: cogta_adm

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has condemned in the strongest terms the murder of uMzimkhulu municipal councillor Mduduzi Shibase who was gunned down last night.

“It is with outrage that we react to the killing of yet another elected public representative in our local government. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

KZN Cogta notes that Cllr Shibase’s murder comes only a few weeks after the brazen killing of uMzimkhulu municipal Speaker, adding to the number of councillors who have become victims of violent murder since the 2016 municipal elections.

“We urge the law enforcement agencies to investigate this murder with speed and apprehend those responsible without delay. We also urge the local community to remain calm as this investigation unfolds,” said Dube-Ncube.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokesperson Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403 or Msawakhe Mayisela on 0609664220

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has urged the eligible voters of Nquthu Municipality to come out in their numbers tomorrow and elect credible councillors who will form a functional council that will quicken the pace of service delivery in the area.

Dube-Ncube was speaking on the eve of the hotly contested Nquthu by-elections as election fever grips the small Northern KZN town with political heavyweights descending to mobilise for support.

“Our appeal is for free and fair elections that will deliver a fully functional municipal council which will administer Nquthu in an exemplary fashion and ensure seamless delivery of basic services to its residents. There is a lot at stake in Nquthu but we have confidence in the electorate,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

“The provincial government has set a very good formula for service delivery since it assumed the responsibility for running the affairs of the municipality.  The provincial government has responded to the key issues of water and electricity and developed a master plan for water infrastructure.  Our hope is that the community will elect people whose central occupation will be to drive service delivery and emulate the example set by the Provincial Executive during the period of intervention” said Dube-Ncube.

KZN Cogta moved to dissolve the Nquthu council elected in the 2016 local government elections because the hung council where no single political party constituted a working majority repeatedly failed to elect municipal office bearers as required by law.

“The success of the work we have done as the province has proved to us that our decision to dissolve the municipality was the right one. We are confident that the municipality is in a better shape than we found it”, added Dube-Ncube.

KZN Cogta has ensured that infrastructure such as water, electricity is available for the use by IEC and that the environment is conducive for free and fair elections.  The department has vowed to provide support to the newly elected Nquthu council so it can fulfil its mandate as stipulated in the country’s constitution.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube is urging mayors of the province’s 54 municipalities to unite behind efforts to advance radical economic transformation. Dube-Ncube made the call today in Ballito during her first meeting with KZN’s mayors since she tabled her budget speech in the Provincial Legislature earlier this month.

“Our immediate task is to locate KZN’s municipalities at the centre of radical economic transformation. This effort will be driven by the existing District Development Agencies which are to serve as the engines of radical economic transformation at local level by co-opting previously disadvantaged individuals into the mainstream of the local economy in each municipality,” said Dube-Ncube.

In its pursuit of so-called ‘Smart Municipalities’, KZN Cogta will also be facilitating the rollout of digital technologies such as free public Wi-Fi and GPS co-ordinates to municipalities to promote internet connectivity and its benefits for the province’s local economies and development, such as maintenance of municipal infrastructure. The proposed rollout of digital technologies will be driven by municipal by-laws.

“This is yet another way of creating equality and a level playing field for all in a local government that has historically suffered from extreme levels of inequality and which has favoured residents of established suburbs over residents of townships and informal settlements. The rollout of free public Wi-Fi will begin in Thusong Centres which are currently not being utilised to their full potential,” said Dube-Ncube.

Another key pronouncement made in KZN Cogta’s 2017/2018 budget was about ensuring that municipalities focus on collecting all revenue that is due to them. Based on the audited financial statements for the 2016 financial year, municipalities in KZN are collectively owed R13.1-billion. If this challenge is not addressed, municipalities are going to collapse.

“We are going to be reviewing the enforcement provisions in municipal credit control and debt collection policies and by-laws. We want to strengthen enforcement provisions to enable municipalities to deal decisively with deliberately defaulting consumers. In this respect, we will look at options of legally accessing creditor information from SARS, banks and credit bureaux,” said Dube-Ncube.

Munimec is an established and regular intergovernmental forum where the MEC for Cogta comes face to face with all political heads and high-ranking officials in municipalities as well as various local government stakeholders to deliberate on topical issues pertaining to local governance in KZN. The Munimec forum was established in the province in 2012.

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Tears flowed in Magogo Village in Nquthu as Gogo Thobekile Mkhize 84, switched on electricity for the first time in her home in the presence of KZN MECs for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Agriculture and Rural Development – Themba Mthembu.

The Mkhize household is one of many that have benefited from the R8.6-million electrification project in their ward which will now see 350 households accessing electricity for the first time.

Speaking to over 2000 community members gathered at the Magogo Sports Grounds, MEC Dube-Ncube urged the community to utilise electricity wisely and ensure that this vital infrastructure is protected and not vandalised because it benefits everyone.

The two MECs also officially opened the newly renovated Embokodo Embomvu Traditional Council under Inkosi ND Ncube. They then proceeded to hand over a deep tank and fencing for grazing land to be utilised by livestock farmers within the community.

The handover of these projects, MEC Mthembu believes, will go a long way to ensuring that rural communities are able to make a living knowing that their livestock is protected and they no longer have to incur costs as grazing land will be closer for their animals.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220

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KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is taking stock of the four days of heavy rain- and snowfall that caused numerous weather-related incidents across the province as a result of the cold front between 12 and 15 May. The department is also embarking on a clean-up operation to ensure that life throughout KZN returns to normal.

“We have logged and responded to a large number of incidents, including flash floods, which impacted on both public infrastructure and private property and disrupted lives in most parts of the province. On a positive note, the incessant rain has brought some relief to our water reservoirs, most of which, however, still remain below their capacity,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

Over the past weekend, KZN had experienced inclement weather conditions caused by a cold front moving in from the west as predicted by the South African Weather Service. This had resulted in extreme low temperatures, strong winds and heavy rainfall which caused localised flooding. Several snowfall-related incidents were reported in the western interior of the province, including the Drakensberg.

“We are pleased to report that all reported incidents were attended to promptly by our disaster management teams which provided immediate disaster relief to all affected communities. We are still assessing the long-term impact of damages to roads, public infrastructure and facilities as well as private properties and we continue to offer assistance to all concerned,” said Dube-Ncube.

KZN Cogta’s disaster management teams worked round the clock throughout the weekend and beyond in close cooperation with all District Disaster Management Centres that serve individual municipalities. The most affected municipalities included uThukela, uMkhanyakude, eThekwini, Ugu, Ilembe, King Cetshwayo, uMgungundlovu and uMzinyathi.

“Every new disaster puts our facilities to the test and we get better and better at responding to crises on the ground with shorter response times and more comprehensive relief packages. I would like to thank all our disaster management teams for their dedication which has saved many lives and mitigated the impact of many disasters for the communities that have no one else to turn to when disasters strike,” said Dube-Ncube.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220

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The body of a forty-eight (48) year-old man whose car was swept away by flash floods near Nanakazi River in ward 1 of Nquthu municipality has been found in the middle of Gubazi River.

Mr Vincent Sbusiso Mcube,  is believed to be a teacher at Ntabasibahle High School in Qhudeni (Nquthu Municipality).

The deceased went missing following torrential rains that swept through the province of KwaZulu-Natal over the past four days, causing sporadic incidents of damage in various parts of the province. The car was recovered yesterday and this afternoon the police divers managed to recover the man’s body.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC has extended a message of condolence to the family. Rapid response and disaster management teams have been deployed to support the family and conduct home circumstance report which determines the needs of the family.

For more information please contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220

KZN disaster prevention and management teams are intervening across the province, following the extreme weather induced by the cold front which in some areas has led to localised flooding.

There has been a number of sporadic incidents responded to last night.  These include the 22 people who were trapped inside the bus as it got submerged into the water near Nseleni outside Richards Bay. Swift responses by the disaster teams from King Cetshwayo municipality and uMhlathuze ensured that all passengers were rescued to safety.

The other Bakkie reportedly with three passengers was also rescued and all passengers are safe.  We are still frustrated by some people and drivers who attempt to drive across flooded roads despite all the warnings we are issuing.

The preventative evacuation of at least 200 people in Mzingwenya near Richards Bay was also carried out successfully and the communities are being assisted with all emergency needs until the situation is safe for them to return to their homes.  We urge communities to cooperate with our teams and move when asked to do so.

In uGu District we have received reports of few mud housing structures collapsing in uMzumbe municipality (2 houses), in uMdoni (6 houses), in uMuziwabantu (ward13, 2 houses).

At this stage there are no reported fatalities as a result of the bad weather across the province.  Disaster teams continue to monitor what is happening in various areas.

The province has activated Joint Operations Centres across all municipalities to ensure rapid responses on the ground.

We are monitoring mostly the low lying areas of the province and in informal settlements where the risks of landslides and damage to makeshift structures are likely to occur.  Many of the province’s roads are wet and slippery hence we also appeal to all road users to exercise extra-caution.

Issued by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

For more information please contact: KZN Cogta spokesperson Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220.

The MEC for the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Minister for Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane and Deputy Ms Pamela Tswete today, officially opened the 10 megalitre Richardsbay Desalination Plant, which provide relief to thousands of residents within the Mhlathuze Local Municipality.

The plant which cost R300 Million is the first of its kind in the province and is a result of the drought that has decimated water reserves across the province. Its construction took seven months and created 152 job opportunities.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony for this plant, Minister Mokonyane said that no expenses would be spared in government’s effort to ensure that citizens have access to proper drinking water, even as the country grapples with a severe drought. “This plant is a symbol of hope for communities as it reflects our willingness to think outside of the box in order to meet the needs of our communities. We know how much water means to our suffering communities and the positive impact its availability creates for the business community” said Mokonyane.

This desalination plant is a giant leap and it diversifies the sources of water within this Municipality.

Municipalities in the province will continue to receive support in the implementation of drought relief programmes from the department of Cogta under the leadership of MEC Dube-Ncube.

“As the provincial government we are really happy with the level of support that we have received from the national government in the implementation of this project alongside others such as the roll out of water tankers and expansion of water schemes to mitigate the impact of this drought” said Dube-Ncube.

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KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), KZN Department of Arts and Culture and Sport and Recreation, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Mgungundlovu District Municipality and uMngeni Local Municipality today officially launched the 6^th edition of the Mandela Day Marathon at the Mandela Capture Site near Howick. This fast- growing marathon takes place in Pietermaritzburg every year, starting at the Manayi Hall in Edendale and finishing at the Mandela Capture Site.

This year’s edition will take place on 27 August and is expected to garner close to 15 000 entries. According to KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube, top runners from the across the continent are expected to take part in this year’s marathon as its previous winners have gone on to win other top races in the country, most memorably the Soweto marathon which was won last year by (female) Selam Abere Aleba Chew from Ethiopia who had won the marathon in 2015.

Entries for this year’s race will open on 12 May and close at midnight on 31 July. The number of entries has been capped at 15 000 for all races. The main prize for the main race of 42km will be R100 000, R20 000 for the 21km race and R10 000 for the 10km race.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220.

Date: 11 May 2017

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The preparations for the 6^th edition of the annual Nelson Mandela marathon are set to be announced tomorrow at the media briefing to be held at the Mandela Capture site.

The marathon which honours South Africa’s first democratically elected president and struggle hero is growing in leaps and bounds each year and  is attracting a lot of international runners at only six years of age.

Organisers of the marathon led by the MEC for  Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the Mayor of uMgungundlovu municipality and the Mandela family will on Thursday, 11 May 2017, brief the media about the logistical framework for the 2017 edition of the annual Mandela Day Marathon,

“This year’s launch is expected to attract the nation’s top runners, sporting personalities.  New features to make the race even more exciting will be announced.

The details of the media briefing are as follows:

Date:              Thursday, 11 May 2017

Time:              9H00am

Venue:           Mandela Capture Site, Tweedie

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend and to be on time

For more information please contact: KZN Cogta spokesperson Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220 or Mbeko Nzimande on 0829036327 or Thando Mgaga on 0735412267

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