Category: News

In the early hours of this morning at 2:30 Disaster Management teams from Nongoma responded to a structural fire in the Mhlongo household in Ndema area under ward 2 of the Nongoma local municipality.

In this incident 3 people, unfortunately, lost their lives in the Mhlongo household, Muziwendoda Mhlongo (76), Busisiwe Grace Mhlongo (67) and Nzuzo Dlamini (7).

From the reports received by the department, the deceased are all the people that were in the house when the structural fire occurred.

We wish to extend our condolences to the family that had lost three loved ones. Disaster Management teams will continue to provide support to the family following this tragic incident.

The cause of the fire is not known, specialists have been assigned to investigate.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

The institution of traditional leadership within our province continues to face several challenges.

Yesterday we learned of the shocking murder of Induna of Osuthu Traditional Council Mr Maphemba Ntuli together with three people.

Circumstances surrounding these murders are unclear.

As a department we call for calm and for law enforcement agencies to be given the space they need to investigate these murders and apprehend those that are responsible.

Last month the chair of this traditional council and Iso leSilo Dr Dumisani Khumalo was assassinated by unknown gunmen.

In this case there have been no arrests, we call upon law enforcement to do everything in their power to deal with the lawlessness that threatens to engulf our province and various sectors that form it.

We express our condolences to the family of Induna Ntuli and the 3 people that were killed in this attack.

Ntuli served with diligence under isigodi Mhambume.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

The provincial government continues to encourage communities, especially in the Mkhanyakude District to explore opportunities that are provided by agriculture.

This morning, in our role as the Political Champion of the Mkhanyakude District under Operation Sukuma, we officially launched the Multi Planting Season programme for the District.

This programme is aimed at promoting food security in our communities and for the exploration of opportunities that agriculture provides.

Through the programme, small-scale farmers and cooperatives benefit from government assistance in the form of the provision of specialised equipment and seeds in their respective communal gardens.

Over 1600 people are benefiting from this programme in the District.

As part of the launch, we visited communal gardens in Nkundusi under the Mtubatuba Local Municipality where we saw first-hand the work being done by local cooperatives to farm fresh produce aimed at various markets.

During this visit, we were heartened by the commitment shown by the community to work closely with the government to expand their farming project and ensure that it runs smoothly. One of the key challenges faced by these cooperatives is the shortage of farming equipment and a proper irrigation scheme, this is something that we are committed to working closely with sister departments to address.

We also visited the Zamimpili Craft and fresh produce market where we had fruitful discussions with the operators or the various stalls.

Key amongst the discussions was the plea for the craft market building to be revamped as it is now leaking.

As a provincial government, we are committed to ensuring that this craft market continues to be a success as it has easy access to travellers who are using the N2 and provides a direct market for small-scale farmers.

We have committed ourselves to work closely with other departments to ensure that the craft market gets all the attention that it needs.

Our final stop for the day was the community meeting at Nkundusi Community Hall where we engaged with residents on the importance of working the land, especially in the context of increases in the cost of living.

To this end, we handed over farming implements to the various cooperatives operating in the community.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

A great tree has fallen within the institution of traditional leadership in our province. We have this morning learned of the sudden passing of Inkosi Totali Protas Mbhele (70) of Amaphuthu Traditional Council, under the Nkandla Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of a community builder who built bridges of peace and development for his community during his 24 reigns.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies first and foremost to His Majesty the King Misuzulu KaZwelithini who has lost a faithful steward that served with all diligence. We also express condolences to the family of Inkosi and the entire traditional community.

During this difficult period, we pray that the Lord Almighty would strengthen the family as they prepare to lay their beloved Inkosi.

Collectively the institution of traditional leadership in our province has lost a dynamic, forward-thinking visionary, who was ahead of his time and opened doors to partnerships that would assist to bring development to his community.

As a department, we have assigned senior officials to provide support to the family as it prepares to lay Inkosi to rest at his final resting place.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

As the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs department, we continue to call for Councillors in our municipalities to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct when it comes to the respect of the country’s rule of law.

The latest developments that have taken place within the sphere of local government concerning the conduct of some office bearers in our municipalities leave a lot to be desired.

While we respect the principle of innocence until proven guilty, we are concerned that allegations surrounding office bearers in Msinga, Abaqulusi and Pongola have a direct impact on the credibility of these institutions whose sole mandate is to provide essential services to our communities.

We have full confidence in the law enforcement agencies and their abilities to investigate the serious allegations surrounding these office bearers and take the appropriate actions.

We are also confident that the councils will also play their part as empowered by the councillor’s code of conduct to hold the respective councillors accountable should there be any wrongdoing.

As the Executive Authority in this portfolio I have no intention to fail in my responsibility as empowered by the Systems Act to act against councillors should the councils fail to do their part.

With this in mind, we would like to call for calm within our communities and assure them that it is within their right to demand ethical leadership that will work in their interest and as a department, we are committed to upholding and demanding more from all Councillors, as they took an oath of office when they were sworn into their respective councils.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

Disaster Management teams continue to be on alert following the latest weather warning that was issued by the South African Weather Service which warns of severe thunderstorms this afternoon into the evening in the areas under the districts of Amajuba, uThukela and uMzinyathi.

These inclement weather conditions bring the possibility of strong damaging winds, excessive lightning and heavy downpours.

Since yesterday, disaster management teams have been alert and responded to incidents in the Maphumulo Local Municipality where roofs were blown off houses during a severe thunderstorm in wards 7 and 8. Our teams are conducting an assessment of the affected areas.

We continue to urge communities to exercise all the necessary precautions, especially those that relate to crossing rivers or flooded walkways. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution on the road.

The following are the areas that will be impacted by the weather conditions:
Abaqulusi, Alfred Duma – Indaka, Alfred Duma – Ladysmith, Dannhauser, eDumbe. eMadlangeni, Endumeni, Inkosi Langalibalele – Estcourt, Inkosi Langalibalele – Sobabili, Mpofana – Giants Castle, Mpofana – Mooi River, Msinga, Newcastle, Nquthu, Okhahlamba.

Issued by MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

The Department continues to call for action from Abaqulusi municipality, against Councillor Khumalo after the incident where he told mourners at a funeral how the municipality would blatantly disregard the rule of law.

While the department notes that his political party is contemplating taking steps against him, the utterances made by Cllr Khumalo demonstrate the violation of the rights of workers in the municipality and possibly exposed the municipality as a hub for illegal recruitment.

As a department, we will not shy away from holding councillors accountable for their conduct.

We believe that as public representatives they have to lead by example and not use unlawful means as well as inappropriate platforms like funerals to further their political agenda.

The department still expects answers from the municipality on the actions that it will take to investigate the conduct of this councillor.

This incident also sheds light on what could be a culture of impunity that runs in the Abaqulusi Local Municipality where councillors and office bearers have a direct hand in recruitment, which begs the question of how deep this rot could be.

These are some of the issues that the department will be calling for answers for from the municipality failing which it will explore other avenues in its quest to restore public confidence in this institution.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

The inclement weather conditions expected in the province during the spring have started, the latest warning which comes from the South African Weather Service indicates that severe thunderstorms can be expected this afternoon over parts of uMzinyathi, iLembe and King Cetshwayo districts, with an above-average risk of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, excessive lightning and heavy downpours.

As the provincial government, we would like to urge communities residing in these districts to take all the necessary precautions as severe thunderstorms pose a risk to human lives.

According to the Weather Services, the thunderstorms could lead to localised damage to infrastructure, localised flooding, difficult driving conditions and localised injuries due to flying debris.

We have placed all our disaster management team on high alert so they can quickly respond should the need arise.

Residents are urged to:
* Avoid unnecessary trips as severe thunderstorms can produce heavy rain within a short space of time, which subsequently led to flash flooding
* reconsider outdoor plans in light of the forecast, and
* maintain a way to receive any warnings that may be issued.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

Freedom of association is one of the founding principles of our country’s democratic dispensation. No one has a right to threaten workers based on their political affiliations.

We are gravely concerned about the footage that is widely circulating on social media platforms which shows an office bearer from the Abaqulusi Local Municipality speaking during a funeral where they declare that the municipality will hire a person without any recruitment process and continue to say that if there are no vacancies in the municipality they will find a worker that is aligned to the African National Congress that they can fire so that the person they want to employ can take their place.

This conduct flies in the face of good governance and ethical conduct which the said councillor signed when they assumed office.

We have directed the department to prepare correspondence to the municipality which will request answers on what is unseemly conduct by a councillor, who has potentially brought the name of the municipality into disrepute.

In terms of Schedule 7 of the Municipal Structures act, the municipality is mandated to deal with allegations of misconduct against councillors deemed to be violating the code of conduct for councillors.

Some of the statements uttered in this clip border around the violation of certain basic constitutional rights and would contribute towards a hostile environment within the Abaqulusi Local Municipality where workers are threatened and dismissed based on their political affiliations and preferences.

As a department we will not hesitate to act without fear or favour in cases where the rights of workers are being infringed upon by office bearers, we also call upon the political party from which the said councillor belongs to conduct their probe into this conduct by its official.

Communities are tired of nepotism and corruption and utterances like the one made by the said councillor feed into this unfortunate narrative.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

As the provincial government, we are fully committed to expanding access to electricity and water for rural communities, yesterday, 30 September, we officially switched on the Siphofu Electrification project in uMzumbe ward 12 which connects 334 households to the grid for the very first time. We also commissioned a production borehole in KwaMgayi ward 8.

These projects are all funded by Cogta and are part of efforts by the provincial government to expand access to water and electricity for rural communities in the Ugu District.

The investment in electrical infrastructure in rural communities brings positive socio-economic benefits as it allows communities to have access to the modern-day conveniences that are provided by electricity.

School-going children no longer have to utilise candlelight to do their homework and those that have to prepare food no longer have to rely solely on firewood, they can now use electric stoves.

As the department of Cogta, we continue to execute our constitutional mandate of supporting municipalities through several measures which include grant transfers for special projects that deliver basic services to our communities such as water and electricity.

We have provided funding to the tune of R4 million which has been used to build hand pumps and production boreholes in twelve areas within the municipalities of uMzumbe and uMuziwabantu. The borehole we commissioned yesterday in KwaMgayi forms part of the projects funded by this grant.

This is a tangible demonstration of the provincial government’s commitment to dealing with the water crisis facing communities within the Ugu District.

Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala

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