Category: News

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has urged municipalities to ensure transparency and value for money in all public procurement of Covid-19-related goods and services as long as much expenditure continues to be incurred in the province.

“Although Covid-19-related expenditure by municipalities, like any other expenditure by municipalities, is within their purview, KZN Cogta is monitoring such expenditure to ensure that ultimately all funds earmarked for the fight against Covid-19 are spent judiciously,” said Hlomuka.

KZN Cogta has today presented a report on Covid-19-related expenditure by the province’s municipalities to the Provincial Legislature’s Cogta portfolio committee. The report also includes all the names of the service providers that were utilised by municipalities where services were procured. As of 2 October 2020, such expenditure across KZN municipalities stood at R812.6-million, of which eThekwini metro accounted for R480.9-million.

“As a department which exercises general oversight over local government institutions in the province, we continue to urge municipalities to ensure that all public procurement processes they engage in ultimately meet the test of transparency and value for money set for them by the National Treasury and the Auditor-General,” said Hlomuka.

The department has directed municipalities to ensure that Mayor’s table a detailed report on COVID-19 expenditure to Council for adoption which is to be included in the Special Adjustment Budget allowed for in respect of 2019/2020 by National Treasury Circular 99 by 15 June 2020.

“The list of suppliers has been submitted to the Provincial Treasury who will analyse it against the Central Supplier Database to determine the demographic profile of Companies. The Auditor-General will be specifically focusing on COVID-19 Expenditure during the 2020/2021 MFMA audit of municipalities which recently commenced” said Hlomuka.

KZN Cogta will continue to monitor municipal expenditure, including Covid-19-related expenditure, and provide the necessary support to all municipalities which in view of the department may require it. The department is committed to clean governance and it is continuously imparting this ethos on all municipalities in the province.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has placed the department’s disaster management teams on alert across the Amajuba, uThukela, uMgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, Harry Gwala and Ugu districts in response to a weather warning issued by the South African Weather Service.

The warning indicates a risk of severe thunderstorms in these areas and the possibility of strong winds, heavy downpours and excessive lightning from this afternoon into the evening. There is also a risk of localised flooding in low-lying areas. Hlomuka has warned that strong winds could lead to infrastructure damages, especially in informal settlements.

Hlomuka has also appealed to residents in the affected areas to exercise great caution. “We are appealing to teachers and parents to ensure that learners utilise appropriate routes to avoid the worst effects of inclement weather. Our teams are on standby and will be monitoring routes and areas that are susceptible to flooding,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka’s advice to communities includes the following: If outdoors, seek shelter immediately but do not seek shelter under a tree, under telephone lines and/or power lines. Avoid outdoor activities as hail, strong winds and flooding may result in injuries. Avoid low-lying roads and bridges as they are susceptible to flooding If possible, stay indoors. Shelter pets, cover vehicles, and disconnect electrical appliances. Listen to the radio or TV for warnings and obey the instructions from disaster management officers.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has expressed condolences to the Zikode and Zondo families in Bergville where two children aged 14 and 11 drowned on Sunday while they were swimming in the Woodstock Dam in Zwelisha.

The department’s disaster management teams responded to the incident soon after it was reported on Sunday. The search and rescue teams comprising of police divers conducted an extensive search of the dam and eventually found the bodies of the two children.

Hlomuka has urged parents to ensure that children are not left unattended near a large body of water. “We have seen tragedies such as this one before during the summer season when the weather is hot and children like to swim in open water. We are appealing to parents to ensure that children are taught about the dangers of large bodies of water, such as dams and streams,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has deployed disaster management teams to provide support to the families affected by this tragic incident.

Hundreds of shacks destroyed, disaster management teams deployed in eThekwini

Hlomuka has also deployed disaster management teams to eThekwini to provide relief to the people who lost their belongings when a fire ripped through an informal settlement in Reservoir Hills in Durban on Sunday.

At 11pm on Sunday, the department’s disaster management teams received information about a fire in the area and responded swiftly. The hard work of the fire and rescue teams ensured that the fire was brought under control, with minimum injuries and without loss of life. Information at the department’s disposal indicates that only one person was injured in this incident.

Disaster management teams deployed by Hlomuka will be working with the victims of the fire who have lost everything. “We are working together with the eThekwini Metro and various Non-Governmental Organisations to ensure that adequate relief is provided to those affected by this incident,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has appealed to residents to continue to be vigilant against the danger posed by fires in informal settlements. The department is embarking on its annual summer disaster awareness campaign aimed at informing residents about the dangers faced by the province during this season.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has warned residents across the north-western parts of the province of the risk of severe thunderstorms which are expected to affect these areas from this afternoon into the evening.

KZN Cogta has received reports from the South African Weather Service which indicate that severe storms may result in heavy downpours, hail as well as excessive lightning in the areas under the Zululand, uMkhanyakude, uMgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, uThukela, and Harry Gwala districts.

The expected thunderstorms bring with them the possibility of localised flooding in low-lying areas and the risk of damage to critical infrastructure and housing, particularly in informal settlements.

Hlomuka has urged residents to exercise caution as such weather conditions continue to pose a serious risk to human life in the province. “We are appealing to communities to abide by the latest weather warnings. Those who are caught in these weather conditions outdoors are urged to seek shelter immediately. Those who are utilising routes that cross rivers are urged not to cross flooded walkways,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has also placed disaster management teams on high alert in all affected districts. Their residents are urged to report any incidents to their local ward authority or to their nearest Disaster Management Centre which can be reached through their municipality.

The Disaster Management teams will be monitoring routes and areas that are prone to localised flooding. Hlomuka has similarly appealed to motorists to drive with caution.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has issued a stern warning to the council of the troubled Mtubatuba local municipality when he met with the full council at KwaMsane today.

This council is one of nine in the province that are currently under administration. Hlomuka’s warning is in response to a number of governance-related challenges that have been plaguing this municipality, including the failure of councillors to attend council meetings.

Reports in the department’s possession indicate that several council meetings have collapsed as a result of disagreements among councillors. This has also cascaded to the Executive Committee meetings which have collapsed five times since June as a result of disagreements and lack of quorum.

Other oversight committees at Mtubatuba, such as the Audit Committee and the Municipal Public Accounts Committee have faced the same fate and this has had disastrous consequences for the provision of basic services to residents.

Hlomuka has appealed to the councillors to put their differences aside and act in the best interest of their residents by resuscitating these oversight structures and ensuring that the council performs its functions.

Hlomuka has welcomed the steps that have been taken against officials who have been fingered in a forensic report for various wrongdoings which include fraud and corruption. Criminal proceedings and civil recovery processes have been initiated against those that are implicated.

A total of 15 municipal employees were implicated in the forensic investigation. Subsequently, 10 employees have faced disciplinary tribunals and were dismissed and four employees are currently facing disciplinary processes. One employee passed away while undergoing disciplinary action.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has learned with sadness of the passing of Inkosi Nandi Sweetness Mjoli (52) of the Mvolosi Traditional Council in the uMzimkhulu local municipality.

Inkosi Mjoli passed away on Sunday, 4 October, following a short illness. Hlomuka has praised Inkosi Mjoli for the important role she has played in bringing development to her community during her tenure as a traditional leader which commenced on 17 October 2017.

“We are shattered as a department by the loss of such a passionate Inkosi who was always acting in the best interest of her community. Her passing has robbed the Mvolosi Traditional Council of an exemplary leader who led with distinction and stopped at nothing to see government programmes implemented for the benefit of isizwe,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has sent condolences to His Majesty the King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu who has also lost in Mjoli a faithful steward of the Mvolosi community. The MEC has also sent condolences to the grieving family, the Harry Gwala District House of Traditional Leaders where Inkosi played an important role ensuring that delivery initiatives at a local government level have an impact on isizwe sakwaMvolosi.

Hlomuka has dispatched senior officials to assist the family with the preparation for the laying of Inkosi to her final resting place.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka today disclosed the latest figures for Covid-19 expenditure by KZN’s municipalities when he briefed members of KZN Legislature’s Cogta Portfolio Committee.

This latest expenditure report accounted for the period between 15 March 2020 and 11 September 2020 and revealed that municipalities have spent R749.5-million on Covid-19-related expenditure.

The department has directed municipalities to ensure that mayors table detailed reports on Covid-19 expenditure to councils for adoption. Such expenditure is to be included in the Special Adjustments Budget allowed for in respect of 2019/2020 by the National Treasury Circular 99 by 15 June 2020.

The department has also asked councils to assess expenditure on extraordinary measures introduced as a result of Covid-19 lockdown and consider a comprehensive council item with financial and non-financial reports in the context of the regulations for urgent and emergency spending to prevent unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

“While we appreciate that municipalities are an independent sphere of government, we have a responsibility to ensure that we thoroughly assess any expenditure to ascertain whether all relevant policies were followed in this procurement,” said Hlomuka.

The top 11 municipalities with the highest Covid-19 expenditure in KZN are:

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has learned with sadness of the tragic loss of three lives at the Sibiya household in KwaNongoma, Ward 17, KwaMjiza, in a house fire incident which took place last night.

In the incident, two children together with their grandmother perished from the severe burns they suffered as a result of the fire which engulfed their home. The cause of the fire is unconfirmed at this stage but it is suspected that it could have been caused by a candle.

Hlomuka has sent condolences to the grieving family and he has also dispatched his department’s disaster management teams to KwaNongoma who are now on site to provide immediate relief to the family and to investigate the possible causes of the fire.

Hlomuka has likewise urged residents across the province to continue to be cognisant of the dangers posed by candles, especially when these are unattended.

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka today assigned a team of senior officials to table before the Msunduzi and Ugu 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.

Both reports reveal damning findings of fraud, corruption and maladministration as well as irregular, unauthorised and fruitless expenditure involving both former and existing officials and one former councillor.

The Msunduzi report has exposed issues, such as the defrauding of the municipality of millions of rand by an irregularly appointed service provider. The report also made findings on the complicity of senior officials in the defrauding of the municipality.

The Ugu report made a number of findings against senior officials within the municipality regarding their failure to follow SCM policies in the awarding of tenders and failure to fulfil functions in relation to the performance of municipal bid committees. These actions consequently contributed to the irregular, fruitless and wastefull expenditure incurred by the municipality.

The reports for both municipalities are recommending disciplinary, civil and criminal proceedings to be initiated against those that are implicated in the findings.

Commenting on these reports, Hlomuka said: “These forensic reports are proof of our department’s commitment to good and clean governance. As government, we are committed to ensuring that our municipalities spend each and every rand on the real needs of our communities. We are fighting maladministration, fraud and corruption in municipalities wherever and whenever these occur. All reported allegations are duly investigated without fear or favour”.

The councils have now been given 21 days within which to table the report before full council, deal with specific details contained in the report and thereafter report to the MEC for Cogta on the remedial actions.

“We are committed to investigating all instances of wrongdoing, including fraud and corruption, in municipalities that are brought to our attention. The department conducts a multitude of investigations simultaneously and reports on the progress of all ongoing investigations to the Provincial Legislature on a regular basis,” said Hlomuka.

As part of his commitment to the capacitation of the institution of traditional leadership in the province of KZN, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka today handed over vehicles and electronic equipment to the Executive Committee of the KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

The tools include 27 tablets with SIM cards with 10GB of data per month to be given to all EXCO members and all Chairpersons of the District Houses of Traditional Leaders. Hlomuka also handed over SUVs to the Chairperson of the Provincial House Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza and his Deputy Inkosi Zulu.

Speaking at the handover, Hlomuka committed his department to ensuring that amakhosi across the province continue to be equipped for the work they do in leading communities. “Today’s handover of tools of trade is an important milestone in our efforts to support the institution of traditional leadership in our province. A lot has changed in our country as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and we hope that these tools will help amakhosi with the job of providing leadership to our communities under these difficult circumstances,” said Hlomuka.

Chairperson of the Provincial House Inkosi Chiliza expressed his gratitude on behalf of amakhosi for the continuing support the department is giving them. “The tablets and the data SIM cards that we have been given today will go a long way towards ensuring that the Provincial House is able to convene virtual engagements with residents and stakeholders,” said Chiliza.