Category: News

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has expressed his shock and sadness at the passing of the Deputy Mayor of Ndwedwe local municipality, Cllr Nokulunga Esther Blose.

Cllr Blose passed away yesterday at the hospital after a short illness. She had served diligently as a member of the Executive Committee, and also as the chair of the Human Resources Committee. She was patient, hardworking and her passing leaves a huge void in the sphere of local government.

“As the sphere of local government in KZN, we have lost yet another leader of our people. We mourn with the Ndwendwe community and the family of municipalities under the Ilembe district the loss they have suffered. During this difficult time, the family and those who worked closely with Cllr Blose remain in our thoughts and prayers,” said Hlomuka.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka has learned with shock and dismay of the assassination of Inkosi Sifiso Derrick Cele, 47, of the KwaCele Traditional Council in the uMdoni Local Municipality.

Inkosi was attacked last night by unknown gunmen who opened fire on him while he was at his home. In the attack, Inkosi suffered fatal injuries and sadly passed away while being transported to hospital.

MEC Hlomuka has condemned this senseless murder which is an attack on the institution of traditional leadership in the province.

Hlomuka has called upon law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of the cowards responsible for this act of cowardice.

The MEC has also sent condolences to the family of Inkosi and the KwaCele Traditional Communities for this tragic loss they have suffered.

MEC Hlomuka has appealed to residents to come forward with any information that might assist law enforcement agencies on these developments.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has directed disaster management teams across the province to be on high alert as more rains are expected this weekend in the northern parts of KZN.

The latest report received from the South African Weather Service indicates that there is a severe risk of flooding due to the tropical storm that is expected to descend on the province this weekend.

Currently, disaster management teams are dealing with floods in the uThukela district where towns, such as Ladysmith and Winterton, have seen their roads flooded as a result of the persistent heavy rains.

Engineers in both these towns are working to resolve some of the challenges posed by the build-up of water.

In Ladysmith displaced residents have been provided with shelter in the indoor sports complex. Community halls have been opened in all the affected areas.

A Joint Operations Committee for Disaster Management in the uThukela District is meeting daily to devise a way to mitigate the impact of the flooding and to prevent any loss of life should the water level continue to increase.

Hlomuka has deployed disaster management teams to all affected areas within the uThukela district to provide interim relief to communities.

The MEC has also appealed to residents to continue to exercise extreme caution as the coming rains could exacerbate the current situation with a number of areas and communities facing the prospect of floods.

So far, KZN has lost eight lives as a result of the inclement weather conditions that started on 24 January due to tropical depression Eloise. The fatalities include a 3-year-old child that was swept away when her mother was crossing a river in Ulundi.

Hlomuka has directed disaster management teams to work closely with community structures, such as ward committees and traditional councils, to ensure that residents in areas that face the risk of flooding are sufficiently warned and assisted should the need arise.

The department will be continuing to monitor these developments and communicate any new measures to communities.

KZN MEC for Cogta Sipho Hlomuka has embarked on a two-day visiting to the Zululand District Municipality where he will be assessing the ongoing efforts to provide appropriate relief to families affected by the heavy rains that struck the northern parts of the province as a result of tropical cyclone Eloise.

 

The District is one of the hardest-hit areas.

 

Tomorrow, Thursday the MEC will visit communities within the eDumbe Municipality where several houses and public infrastructure was damaged by the heavy rains.

 

On Friday, the MEC will be visiting communities within Nongoma Municipality where two fatalities were reported with a 3-year-old child still missing.

 

Members of the media are invited to, the details of which are as follows:

 

Day 1: 

 

Date: Thursday, 11 November

Time: 09:00am

Venue: eDumbe Local Municipality

 

Day 2:

 

Date: Friday, 12 November

Time: 09:00 AM

Venue: Nongoma Local Municipality.

Pietermaritzburg: KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has expressed his sadness on learning of the news of the passing of Inkosi Elliott Zamokuhle Mkhize of the uKuthula Traditional Council in the uMdoni local municipality under the Ugu district.

Inkosi passed away yesterday following a short illness. Hlomuka has sent condolences to the Inkosi’s family, the Traditional Council and to the Local House of Traditional Leaders in the Ugu district where Inkosi had served diligently.

The MEC has also dispatched senior officials from the department to provide support to the grieving family.

KZN Cogta MEC Hlomuka has also learned with great sadness of the passing of the struggle stalwart Alfred Duma, aged 94.

Duma held a special place in the hearts of many within the province for his bravery in the face of adversity as he stood against the apartheid regime.

In him, the province and country have lost a fountain of wisdom. They have lost a dedicated activist who served the people of South Africa with integrity at the risk of his own life.

In 2016, following the amalgamation of the Indaka and the Mnambithi local municipalities, residents decided to name the newly formed municipality after Alfred Duma in honour of this hero of the struggle.

Hlomuka has sent his heart-felt condolences to the Duma family.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has learnt with shock and sadness the news of the untimely passing of the Mayor of the King Cetshwayo District, Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi.

Mkhulisi passed away following a short illness in the early hours of this morning.

Hlomuka has sent his condolences to the Mkhulisi family, the King Cetshwayo family of municipalities, the KZN Chapter of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) where the late Mayor served as Chairperson and to her party – the African National Congress.

Mkhulisi was of a rare breed of public representatives who helped shape what we now know as the sphere of local government in our country. In her, the local government in our province has lost a formidable leader who understood our communities and sought to serve them with integrity until her final days.

“As a province, we are lost for words, for we have truly lost the best amongst us. We have lost a humble servant who worked diligently for the people of our province and the King Cetshwayo District. Her passing leaves a deep void in the sphere of local government in KZN,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has wished strength and comfort to the Mkhulisi family and the people of King Cetshwayo district as they mourn the loss of their leader.

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Sipho Hlomuka has warned residents across the province to exercise extreme caution when approaching large bodies of water.

This warning from the MEC, comes following three incidents that were reported yesterday in the Jozini Municipality where three people are believed to have drowned. In the first incident two boys aged 8 and 9 in Othobothini drowned when they were swimming in the local river. In the second incident in Ndumo a 30-year-old male is believed to have drowned while attempting to cross a river. Both incidents are still being investigated by the police.

Cogta MEC has expressed his concern at these incidents and has appealed to parents to ensure that children are not left unattended near large bodies of water. Hlomuka has also warned residents to not cross rivers but instead to use safer options.

“We are concerned with the reports that we have received and want to appeal to all residents to continue to be vigilant. Large bodies of water are very dangerous and one must not attempt to cross a river since the strength of the current could be very strong” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has dispatched disaster management teams to the affected families to provided interim relief.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka today assigned a team of senior officials to table before the Msunduzi and Richmond councils a report on the forensic investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption, maladministration and statutory non-compliance at these municipalities in terms of Section 106(1)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act.

The reports tabled before the councils make various findings, including but not limited to, the incurring of irregular expenditure, the irregular appointment of service providers, failure by officials to keep full and proper records on financial and other matters with recommendations to ensure corrective measures are taken to recover losses and enforce consequence management where applicable.

The municipalities have been given 21 days within which to revert to the MEC on their respective plan of action to implement the findings of the reports.

The tabling of these reports which have been undertaken by the department is yet another confirmation of the provincial governments commitment to good clean governance within the sphere of local government in our province.

Hon. Minister for Cogta, Dr Dlamini-Zuma;

Hon. MEC for Cogta in Limpompo;

Hon. MEC for Cogta in Mpumalanga;

Members of the media

We would first like thank the Minister for convening this important briefing for us to update the nation on our response as a province to the heavy downpours we experienced the 24^th and 25^th of January as a result of the Tropical Cyclone Eloise.

Early warning

In our province three Districts were identified by the South African Weather Service as the areas that will likely experience severe weather conditions as a result of the storm brought by the Cyclone. These were the uMkhanyakude district where the highest level of risk was assigned in areas such as Big Five-Hlabisa, Jozini, Mtubatuba and uMhlabuyalinga local municipalities.

The weather reports indicated also indicated that parts of the King Cetshwayo and Zululand districts were also expected to receive heavy rains although to a lesser extent.

Immediately upon receiving the alert, our Provincial Disaster Management Centre convened its daily JOC meetings with the identified municipalities and other stakeholders where concrete plans were put into place to prepare for an effective emergency response.

As a result of the early coordination facilitated by our department an extensive awareness programme was embarked upon in these areas, with loud hailing to warn communities in areas that are considered high risk. This was coupled with intensive engagements with our community radio stations where residents were warned about the negative impact of the expected storms.

We also promptly engaged with our amakhosi and their Traditional Councils, as well as with all affected Ward Committees, Councillors and Community Development Workers in all target areas to spread the message.

Our message was very simple:

• We called on those residing in low-lying areas or near rivers to seek higher ground;
• We called for vigilance from community members and we urged them to follow all updates regarding the weather on the news; and
• We urged communities to obey instructions from their local disaster management officials should they require households in their areas to evacuate to safety

In all of these efforts, our main aim was to protect human life.

IMPACT OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS

Our province has a history of disasters in which many lives are routinely lost. It is for this reason that we could not take the warnings we received from the South African Weather Service lightly.

As part of our disaster response plan, we engaged with our sister departments regarding emergency plans should the need arise to render disaster relief if and when there are people who are displaced by the inclement weather conditions.

When the heavy rains began on Sunday, we were hoping that our province would be spared any major calamity.

SCOPE OF THE DAMAGE

MKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT:

On the 24^th and 25^th of January 2021, Jozini Local Municipality experienced heavy rainfall and flooding incidents that affected almost all wards. Our latest information indicates that so far a total number of two hundred and eighty (280) households and nine hundred and sixteen (916) people. There were approximately one hundred and seventy-five (175) completely destroyed houses and one hundred and ten (110) partial destroyed houses. This devastation left thirty-five (35) families homeless however it was fortunate that there were no injuries or fatalities reported.

Interim relief is being provided to the affected families in the form of blankets, tents, sponges and mattresses, food parcels and temporary shelters for displaced families.

 

A number of local access roads were flooded and blocked off as a result of the heavy rains in the Mkhanyakude district. These roads are D1836, D1834, D1830, D9 and P44. The Department of Transport has allocated additional resources which will be used to clear up some of these roads and re-gravel them in due course.

 

ZULULAND DISTRICT

 

ABAQULUSI

We received said news of a fatality in this municipality. A 14-year-old boy drowned yesterday in KwaShoba, in Ward 13 of Abaqulusi. The details are still sketchy as this incident took place late yesterday. We express our condolences to the affected family. Our teams are providing support to them.

On Sunday heavy rainfall also led to a structural collapse incident where one (01) household in ward 13, Esilweni area, as a result two (02) boys were injured and taken to hospital and they have both been discharged. Relief is being provided to the affected family.

 

UPHONGOLO

On the 24^th of January 2021, the uPhongolo Local Municipality experienced heavy rainfall and flooding incidents which affected a total number of twelve (12) households in ward 8, ward 9, ward 10 and ward 13. There were seven (07) completely destroyed houses in ward 7, ward 8 and ward 9. There were six (06) partially destroyed houses in ward 02 and ward 10. There were no injuries or fatalities reported.

Caution needed as more rains are expected

Hon Minister we strongly believe that our early warning from the South African Weather Service and the work done by our disaster management teams and other stakeholders assisted us to limit the risk of loss of life.

Our teams are still cautious as more rains are expected in the course of the week according to the South African Weather Service.

We continue to monitor the situation on the ground as conditions are expected to become potentially more dangerous as the ground is already saturated with excess water from the rains.

We continue to appeal to our communities to abide by the instructions of their local disaster management officials. We cannot understate the importance of this.

Conclusion

We continue to ensure that all sector departments are on board in line with the multi-sectoral response plan that has been adopted and that all of them are on standby to offer the required support pre-, during and post-disaster. We must also re-iterate that all our stakeholders are duly participating in the JOCs, including all our OSS Champions in line with our District Development Model approach.

We are confident that working together we can minimise the impact of Eloise on the ground, save human lives and safeguard both public infrastructure and private property.

I thank you!