Category: News

KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, under the leadership of MEC Sipho Hlomuka, has deployed additional water tankers to the province’s Water Service Authorities in an effort to bring water closer to communities as the province and country continue to fight against the spread of Covid-19.
Hlomuka made the announcement this morning while attending the virtual Cogta portfolio committee meeting where the department updated the KZN Provincial Legislature on its expenditure and performance during the 2019/2020 financial year.
“This week we have been working hard as a department to deliver 22 water tankers to our thirteen Water Service Authorities where they will be utilised to bring much-needed water to rural communities across the province. These tankers have been delivered and have now commenced with the important work of serving our communities,” said Hlomuka.
This rollout, according to Hlomuka, is part of the department’s commitment to make good on its pledge to capacitate municipalities to fulfil their service delivery mandate. The rollout of water tankers is particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These water tankers that we have deployed for an initial period of three months, will not cost the municipalities anything and will ensure that more of our communities get access to water as we fight against the spread of Covid-19.
“As a department, we have made several key interventions, which include the deployment of R160-million worth of plant equipment to municipalities to speed up service delivery under our Operation Khawuleza initiative.
“We have also deployed close to 500 graduates who hold qualifications in scarce skills, such as engineering, town planning, finance and others, to capacitate our municipalities and create employment for the youth, particularly in rural areas.
“Recently we also deployed 3000 static tanks to all our municipalities to bring water closer to the most vulnerable communities. The additional 22 water tankers are a clear indication of our commitment to solving the water challenges in our communities” said Hlomuka.
The Water tankers have been deployed as follows:
WSAs ALLOCATED WATER TANKERS
Ilembe 1
Ugu 3
Harry Gwala 2
Umzinyathi 1
Uthukela 2
Umgungundlovu 1
Msunduzi 1
Newcastle 2
Amajuba 2
Zululand 2
Umkhanyakude 2
King Cetshwayo 2
Mhlathuze LM 1

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka today assigned a team of senior officials to table before the Zululand District council a report on the forensic investigation into allegations of maladministration and corruption at the municipality in terms of section 106(1)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000).

The report, which was tabled this morning in a virtual council meeting, makes a number of findings relating to allegations of fraud and corruption by several senior officials and councillors in the district. The Municipality is given 21 days within which to revert to the MEC on implementation of the report.

Hlomuka has urged the council to act with haste in addressing the issues contained in the report. “We are committed to investigating all instances of wrongdoing, including fraud, corruption and maladministration in municipalities that are brought to our attention. We conduct a multitude of investigations simultaneously and report on their progress to the Provincial Legislature on a regular basis,” said Hlomuka.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has expressed his concern at the deteriorating fiscal situation in the province’s municipalities following the outbreak of Covid-19 which has brought many industries in the province and country to a standstill.

The implementation of the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 has meant that many municipalities across the province have not been able to collect enough revenue in March and April. This could lead to a situation where the quality of services offered by municipalities is compromised as a result of the revenue shortfall.

Hlomuka has urged residents to utilise various platforms, which include digital platforms, to pay for services that are rendered by their respective municipality.

“It is important that we continue to pay for services which we receive from our municipalities. While we understand that the economic situation facing many of our communities is dire, there is a need for all of us to not neglect to pay for services, such as water, electricity and rates, as the financial viability of our municipalities depends on revenue generated from these services. We are appealing to residents who have defaulted to make the necessary arrangements with their respective municipalities,” said Hlomuka.

GAZETTING OF NEW REGULATIONS PAVING WAY FOR MUNICIPAL REVENUE GENERATION SERVICES TO OPERATE

Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka has also welcomed the gazetting of new regulations which pave the way for revenue generation by municipalities to re-commence. According to the guidelines that come into effect yesterday, municipalities are now allowed to operate revenue-generating services which include:

• payment for licenses;
• issuing of licenses of vehicles, renewal of drivers’ licenses and roadworthy certificates;
• municipal trading services, such as water and electricity, property rates, refuse removal, and rental payments;
• issuing of clearance certificates; and
• meter reading.

“The sphere of local government in our province and country is facing immense pressure as a result of Covid-19. Through this crisis, we have seen this sphere taking the lead through the sanitisation of public spaces, such as municipal buildings, with the aim of preventing the spread of Covid-19 in our communities. As our municipalities re-commence with the process of rendering the revenue-generating services, it is important that Covid-19 guidelines be followed so that we can protect our residents,” said Hlomuka.

Residents are urged to consult with their respective ward councillors or municipalities regarding when these services will be open.

Hlomuka has also urged municipalities and municipal entities to ensure that they adhere to all Covid-19 public health regulations and containment prescripts, especially those relating to gatherings and physical distancing when performing essential municipal services which include revenue collection.

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Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Sipho Hlomuka has commended the progress being made by the Harry Gwala District Municipality in addressing water challenges.

This follows the MEC’s visit to the District today where he assessed the rollout of water infrastructure to communities. In this visit, MEC Hlomuka together with MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Ms Bongi Sithole-Moloi checked the progress on a number of water-related projects.

Recently Hlomuka’s department dispatched 450 static tanks to the District with the aim of improving access to water for rural communities.

This morning Hlomuka visited the recently built Bulwer Water Treatment Works, which produces 1,5 million litres of water every day and has resolved some major water backlogs in the area. The scheme provides water to over 3000 residents in Bulwer Town, Bulwer low-cost housing and Khenana in the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality.

During the visit, Harry Gwala District Mayor Cllr Zamo Nxumalo provided both MEC’swith progress of the Cogta funded upgrading of the pipelines supplying water to the towns of Underberg and Kokstad. The R15 million investment made by the department towards this project will drastically increase the amount of water that is accessible to communities surrounding these towns in the Harry Gwala District.

“As a department, we are committed to ensuring that our communities receive adequate provisions of water. We have deployed a considerable amount of resources to capacitate municipalities in their responsibility of bringing water closer to our communities” said Hlomuka.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has sent his condolences to the families and traditional communities of Embo/Ilanga and Magwaza following the passing of their respective amakhosi over the weekend.

Inkosi Sizwesonke Vincent Magwaza (65) of Nkandla passed away on 20 April and Inkosi Emmanuel Benjamin Thamsanqa Mkhize (67) of eThekwini passed away on 26 April. Both amakhosi passed away following a short illness.

Inkosi Mkhize was a retired Magistrate and contributed a great deal towards the institution of traditional leadership in the province. He served in a variety of portfolios within the King Cetshwayo Local House of Traditional Leaders, which plays a key role in facilitating development within the rural communities in the district.

Hlomuka has joined the institution of traditional leadership in the province in mourning the loss of these two influential amakhosi whose lives were lived in service to their communities.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of these two doyens of wisdom. Many young traditional leaders within our province have been shaped by the wisdom gleaned from these two seasoned leaders. Both amakhosi were known among their peers as champions of rural development and under their watch, their respective communities witnessed many positive developments,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka has dispatched a team from the department that will be assisting the families of the respective amakhosi with handling the funeral arrangements.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka, together with the MECs for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Ntuli and Agriculture Bongi Sithole-Moloi, yesterday visited the Nkandla local municipality, under the King Cetshwayo district, where they officially handed over 631 static tanks to the district.

The MECs’ visit is part of the provincial government’s ongoing interventions aimed at bringing water closer to communities. Cogta has already distributed 3000 static tanks to the province’s Water Service Authorities since the beginning of the year to facilitate the provision of water to communities.

Water provision has become even more urgent in the wake of the covid 19 pandemic which requires frequent washing of hands which is a critical part of hygiene.

According to the Cogta MEC, the deployment of the static tanks to the King Cetshwayo district is meant to support efforts that are being made by jointly by the district and the provincial government to bring water closer to our communities.

“The static tanks that we have provided today will be distributed by the district to the various strategic points in our communities. This will ensure that water is more accessible as our province is still recovering from the devastating drought which depleted a number of water sources. Many of these have not recovered even till today,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka together with the delegation also visited the Nkandla Water Treatment plant which supplies water to the town and surrounding communities. During the visit, King Cetshwayo District Mayor, Cllr Mkhulisi assured the MECs that the static tanks that have been provided will be utilised to benefit all communities across the district.

“This timely intervention is warmly welcomed and our teams have already started placing these static tanks at strategic point within our communities so that our fleet of water tankers can ensure that they are filled frequently,” said Cllr Mkhulisi.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka this morning visited the uThukela district’s Winterton Water Treatment plant where he was assessing and monitoring the delivery of water to rural communities.

During his visit Hlomuka was accompanied by the uThukela district Mayor Cllr Mazibuko, Okhahlamba Mayor Cllr Ndlangisa and the Chairperson of the uThukela district Local House of Traditional Leaders Inkosi Sithole.

Under the leadership of MEC Hlomuka, the department has deployed 4000 static tanks to the Water Service Authorities across the province with the aim of bringing water closer to communities.

In his address when touring the plant, Hlomuka urged officials in the uThukela district to utilise the 180 static tanks that have been provided by his department to bring water closer to communities.

“We are all concerned about the availability of water in our province and country. As officials within this district which is a Water Service Authority, you have the responsibility of ensuring that water is provided to communities who need it to continue with their lives. As a department, we have made several interventions in this district which includes the transfer of R15- million in January this year to upgrade the Moyeni/Zwelisha and Bergville Water Supply schemes, which will bring much-needed water to these communities,” said Hlomuka.

Hlomuka also visited the towns of Ladysmith and Bergville where he visited several SASSA pay points to monitor their compliance with Covid-19 regulations. The delegation also took part in a roadblock in both of these towns where law enforcement agencies were checking motorists in line with the lockdown regulations.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has deployed 2300 static tanks to communities across the province in efforts to bring services closer.

This morning MEC Hlomuka visited the Ixopo Water Works in the Harry Gwala District together with the Harry Gwala District Mayor Cllr Nxumalo, Ubuhlebezwe Mayor Cllr E.B Ngubo and the KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders Chair Inkosi Chiliza, where they assessed the plant’s efficiency in filling up water tankers that bring water to the surrounding rural communities.

The provision of water is a key ingredient in the government’s efforts to combat the spread of the Corona Virus, with it being a key part in communities practising safe hygiene.

Hlomuka has also announced that his department is providing an additional 1700 static tanks which are being delivered to the province’s Water Service Authorities with the aim of boosting efforts to bring water closer to communities. This means that the province will have a total of 4000 static tanks have been deployed to communities, together with other interventions which include boreholes.

“The additional static tanks that are being deployed are as a result of the concern that we have as a department about our communities accessing water during the lockdown. The department of Water and Sanitation National Command on Covid-19 is providing us with 1000 static tanks which form part of the additional deployment” said Hlomuka.

“As a department, we are working hand in hand with Water Service Authorities to ensure that water is provided to communities” added Hlomuka.

Hlomuka also convened a meeting with the District Task Team under the Operation Sukuma Sakhe programme, where he received a report from the District Command Task team on the enforcement of the lockdown as prescribed by the President of the country.

Hlomuka emphasised the importance of councillors and amakhosi supporting law enforcement agencies’ efforts to ensure that regulations are enforced.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has assured residents across the province that essential services provided by municipalities, such as waste removal, water, sanitation, electricity and disaster management, will continue uninterrupted as the province and country commence with the 21-day lockdown as announced by the president to fight against the spread of Covid-19.

The department has issued a directive to municipalities in the province for Municipal Managers to sign letters which will be given to employees who perform essential services so that they can be able to move around unrestricted as they go about their jobs in line with the Disaster Management Act, 2002; Regulations issued in terms of Section 27(2) as gazzetted by the national Minister of Cogta Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

“During this difficult time we are faced with as a province, it is crucial that the sphere of local government plays its part as it is at the coalface of service delivery which is essential to the wellbeing of communities. In the engagements we have had with municipalities, we have emphasised the importance of implementing work from home measures where possible,” said Hlomuka.

“The success of the lockdown as announced by the President of the Country his Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa depends on all of us playing our part as the sphere of local government and the institution of traditional leadership,” added Hlomuka.

Access to water: 

The department also continues to support municipalities across the province with the provision of Jojo tanks. Since last April, the department has distributed 2300 Jojo tanks, and R160 millions worth of plant equipment which includes water tankers, waste trucks, honey suckers, TLBs, Graders and other equipment with the aim of speeding up the delivery of services.

While the fiscal space in the sphere of local government is constrained, Hlomuka has assured residents that municipalities will do their best to ensure that services are uninterrupted.

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