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Category: News

  • State of readiness for the Mandela Day Marathon

    MEDIA BRIEFING: STATE OF READINESS FOR 2018 MANDELA DAY MARATHON

    BY NOMUSA DUBE-NCUBE

    KZN MEC FOR COGTA

    MANDELA CAPTURE SITE: 22 AUGUST 2018

    Ladies and gentlemen of the media

    Thank you for availing yourself for today’s final media briefing on the 2018 Mandela Day Marathon.

    With only a few days before the start of the Marathon, we are confidently entering what in sports lingo is called a home stretch.

    Today’s media briefing has been called to provide a progress report on the state of readiness for this year’s race, including the logistical arrangements for athletes and other participants.

    We have 24,000 registered runners for the 2018 marathon which makes this year’s event the biggest yet. We would like to thank all of them for heeding our advice and registering before the deadline for registrations which was 31 July 2018. This has allowed us enough time for the actual logistical preparations for the race.

    This year, as you know, is Madiba’s centenary year and the race thus assumes that special aura of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run a race of this importance. This race will have a unique atmosphere that simply cannot be replicated. Make the best of it – either as a runner or a spectator.

    Athletes can check their registration details and collect their packs and numbers in Durban today, 22 August, at Moses Mabhida Stadium between 10:00am and 07:00pm and in Pietermaritzburg this Friday, 24 August, at PMB YMCA Sports Hall between 10:00am and 07:00pm and also this Saturday, 25 August, at the same venue between 09:00am and 05:00pm. Athletes are also encouraged to follow text message updates on the race sent to their mobiles.

    The main 42.2km race will be run on Sunday, 26 August, starting at 06:00am and finishing at 12h00 midday which is a 6 hour cut-off. The 21.1km race will also be run on Sunday, 26 August, starting at 05:30am and finishing at 08:30am which is a 3 hour cut-off. The 10km race will be run on the same day, 26 August, starting at 05:30am and finishing at 07:30am which is a 2 hour cut-off.

    Parking for athletes and visitors will be available at all start venues. Everyone is advised to drive to start venues and park their vehicles there. Roads will close 30 minutes before races start. There will be no shuttles from the Capture Site to the Start before the race due to a full road closure. Athletes will be shuttled back to starting points after the race.

    From our organisers’ perspective, we can report that our main sponsor – ABSA – is on board and excited to participate. The same goes for KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and uMgungundlovu District Municipality as the two co-organisers of the event.

    We would like to conclude with a firm assurance that we are aiming for a fitting celebration of Madiba’s centenary through this year’s marathon and we all are absolutely committed to ensuring that this is the experience you will all take away from this race either as runners or spectators.

    I thank you!

  • MEC Dube-Ncube releases damning former eZinqoleni forensic report to the new Ray Nkonyeni Council

    The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has, in the spirit of openness and transparency which guides its general oversight over the province’s municipalities, today presented before a full municipal council of Ray Nkonyeni, its report on the forensic investigation it conducted into irregular expenditure at the former Ezinqoleni municipality.

     KZN Cogta initiated the forensic investigation into allegations involving R35-million worth of irregular expenditure incurred through alleged acts of misconduct by senior managers during the merger of Ezinqoleni municipality and the Hibiscus Coast municipality in August last year.  The investigation was initiated at the request of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, who is a successor in title to former Ezinqoleni after the auditor-general had picked up that money had been spent irregularly.  It is alleged that the R35million was spent in just one month before the municipal systems were consolidated and the two municipalities merged as per the recommendation of the Municipal Demarcations Board.

     Investigations revealed that various projects including community halls and the appointment of service providers were in violation of supply chain management processes and non-compliant with legal requirements. This according to the report resulted into the irregular expenditure, irregular awarding tenders and inflated costs which financially prejudiced the citizens of the merged Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.

    The investigations has since recommended a slew of charges including criminal, disciplinary measures and civil recoveries against the staff members of former Ezinqoleni Municipality who are now in the employ of the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.  Those who have since left should be charged criminally and civil recoveries considered

    These include former Senior Executives in administration, top officials and staff in the supply chain management unit. Further to that the Municipal Council will have to consider if any Councillors contravened Councillors’ Code of Conduct in terms of Schedule 1 of the Municipal Systems Act. It is also recommended that as provided for by the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, the report should be reported to South African Police Services

    “We urge the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality as a successor in title to expeditiously attend to the contents and recommendations of the report and as such we are giving the council an opportunity to report to us within 21 days informing us of their plan of action to implement the findings and recommendations contained in the report” said Dube-Ncube.

     “We commend the Ray Nkpnyeni Municipal Council for initiating this investigation with the support of Cogta.  It indeed a breath of fresh air and a commitment to clean and transparent government and implementing consequence management for wrong doing”; said Dube-Ncube.

     “Today’s tabling of this important forensic report is the culmination of hard work by KZN Cogta which continuously ensures that all wrongdoing in municipalities is investigated without fear or favour by an independent party. This makes today a big day for openness and transparency at the former Ezinqoleni municipality,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

     “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 Dube-Ncube.

     Ends.

  • MEC Dube-Ncube: Time for women to conclude struggle against inequality is now

    Women must be steadfast and claim their rightful leadership space in a patriarchal society. That is according to KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube who was speaking at the Women of Impact Seminar in Durban today.
    Dube-Ncube cautioned that the current generation of women will be judged harshly by history for setting future generations of women up for failure if they remain mere passive spectators to men and the patriarchal society we still see in South Africa today.
    “Times have changed dramatically in favour of women but I do not think we have occupied the space that we should be occupying. Take for example those who came before us who against all odds resisted to have their voices drowned out. They collectively faced the might of the apartheid regime and registered their concerns. Now our generation needs to do an objective introspection and ask some difficult questions – are we truly where we need to be?” – said Dube-Ncube.
    “One of the challenges we are facing is that we are bearing the brunt of poverty, yet opportunities are out there for us to turn our lives around. We do not want to work together and the pull-her-down syndrome is a hindrance for us to ascend to all the new economic opportunities that are now available. We need to close ranks, work together and support one another. We desperately need forums of this nature where we share ideas and map a way forward for aggressive women empowerment processes,” said Dube-Ncube.
    Dube-Ncube urged women to work together to nip in the bud the scourge of abuse of women. She said if women are not supporting victims of abuse and expose perpetrators, war against women abuse would never be won.
    “Enough is enough – women and our girl children are raped and killed. Perpetrators are usually men known to them; men who are their partners, husbands and uncles. These are people that should be protecting them but instead they do the opposite. We protect these perpetrators because in certain instances they put food on the table. We usually do this at the expense of children who in some instances are repeatedly raped,’’ said Dube-Ncube.
    She commended government at all levels for the strides that have been made to empower women. The private sector was called upon to follow suit by elevating women empowerment high on its agenda.
    Ends.

  • Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube optimistic audits will improve after key meeting with Municipalities

     

    With only a few days left before the Auditor-General commences the audit process in the province’s municipalities, KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has expressed satisfaction with the conducive climate created by the Mayors for auditors to do their work without fear or favour.

     Today, MEC Dube-Ncube met with mayors of municipalities who regressed in their audit outcomes for the 2016/2017 financial year to take stock of the progress made in addressing audit findings through the implementation of these municipalities’ audit response plans.

    The meeting took place against the background of fifteen of the fifty four municipalities which ended up with negative audit outcomes for the 2016/2017 financial year. The meeting was a follow–up on an initial meeting in February which was held to determine the level of progress achieved and the measures that are now in place to address all outstanding audit matters.

     The meeting also assessed the state of readiness for the upcoming submission of financial statements that will form the basis of 2017/2018 municipal audits.

     “We are optimistic and highly upbeat about the hands-on approach adopted by our mayors and the priority they have given to addressing the audit findings from the Auditor-General. We are also satisfied with the level of preparation and all efforts to ensure that all auditors will be able to do their work in a conducive environment in all KZN municipalities.

     “As Cogta, we want to increase the number of clean audits and positive audit outcomes with no emphasis of matters. We are determined to do away with disclaimers, adverse and qualified audit opinions. We want to do away with irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. We want to see harsh consequences for anyone responsible for our municipalities’ negative audit reports.

    “Our Mayors are reporting that they are attending to the root causes reported by the Auditor-General as contributing factors to the negative audit outcomes in KZN municipalities, such as slow response to improving key internal controls by senior municipal management, inadequate consequences for poor performance and instability and prolonged vacancies in key management positions in municipalities.

     “As Cogta we are investing more time in improving municipal audit outcomes and ensuring good performance and value for money on the ground.  All municipalities have been instructed to submit their annual financial statements on time and we will monitor their compliance,” said Dube-Ncube.

  • Mandela capture vehicle unveiled in Howick marking 56 years since his arrest

    A replica of the 1962 Austin  Westminster used to ferry Nelson Mandela prior to his capture by apartheid operatives in 1962 was officially unveiled by KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube together with Mayors from the uMgungundlovu District at the Mandela Capture Site in Howick on Sunday.
    The unveiling was witnessed by more than 300 people who woke up early in the morning to be part of a 5km Fun walk which started at Midmar Dam and ended at the Capture Site where the Mayors and MEC laid wreaths as part of commemorations of 56 years since the arrest of Nelson Mandela at this very site.
    According to MEC Dube-Ncube, the unveiling of this car marks a key moment in the efforts by the provincial government to ensure that the history of our country is never forgotten. “As the provincial government, we have invested more than R100-million into the building of the Mandela Capture Site which now comprises an Apartheid Museum – this is part of a larger vision which includes the Manaye Precinct in Edendale, the last known place where Madiba made an address to members of the public prior to his arrest”.
    Speaking to the media, Mayor of uMgungundlovu District Thobekile Maphumulo hailed the success and economic benefits that are derived by the District as a result of the Mandela Day Marathon which is now only 20 days away; we are looking forward to once again hosting thousands of athletes in this year’s edition of the race taking place on 25 and 26 of August.
    Ends

  • Mandela Marathon entries closed – Overwhelming Twenty Thousand register to run and “keep living the legacy”

    It is with great excitement and humility that the Organising Committee of the Mandela Day Marathon announces that the entries for the 2018 edition of the Mandela Day Marathon (MDM) have officially closed with a record 20,000 committed participants.

    The entry cap was reached a short while ago, necessitating the closure of the entry process.

    The 7th edition of the Mandela Day Marathon takes place on Sunday, 26 August 2018. The event is once again expected to boost the uMgungundlovu District and KwaZulu-Natal economy by millions of rand in tourism revenue.

    The 2018 theme is “#Keep Running the Legacy”.

    Organising Committee Spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said: “We are extremely delighted with the level of enthusiasm and excitement demonstrated by athletes in participating in the Mandela Day Marathon. This marathon is like no other as it is about the “triumph of the human spirit”.  This year is a centenary celebration and all runners are assured of memorable experience in 2018.”

    MDM Race Director Johan Van Staden said: “The preparations are now in full swing to deliver a successful marathon in honour of our iconic leader. The Mandela Day Marathon contributes hugely to the local economy of the Midlands and the entire KwaZulu-Natal region due to the ever-increasing number of participants in several events, including the 42.2km main marathon, MTB Dash and Trail running.”

    Van Staden added that “the uMgungundlovu District and Msunduzi Municipalities welcome athletes from all over the country, as well as the rest of Africa and internationally”.

    Mabaso has thanked all entrants for getting their entries in on time. The 2018 Mandela Day Marathon will start at the Manaye Hall in Imbali and finish at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick on Sunday, 26 August 2018.

    Go to www.mandelamarathon.co.za for more information.

    ***ENDS***

    For an interview, please call Lennox Mabaso on 082 884 2403; or Brian Zuma on 083 708 2245

  • MEC urges selfless sacrifice on Mandela Day in Pietermaritzburg and Durban

    KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has today, on the Mandela Day, joined KZN Premier Willies Mchunu and eThekwini Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede in various 67 Minutes for Madiba activities in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, respectively.

    The MEC’s programme started at Manaye Hall in Imbali where progress with the implementation of the Manaye and Mandela Capture Site projects was presented to the media. Both initiatives are signature projects of KZN Cogta and a way to capitalise on Madiba’s link with the province for marketing purposes.

    Dube-Ncube’s programme then moved to Durban where a CBD clean-up took place in various areas alongside Margaret Mncadi Avenue. The activities also included painting of derelict buildings as part of Durban’s wider urban rejuvenation programme which seeks to draw businesses back to the CBD.

    “We would like to thank all community members for donating their time on this Mandela centenary day for the benefit of their fellow citizens and for the greater good of society. This is the true spirit of Madiba’s selfless sacrifice – doing things for others without expecting anything in return,” said Dube-Ncube.

    Ends.

  • Local Economic Development takes uMzinyathi Growth Summit

     

    Finding innovative ways to grow the economy of the uMzinyathi district municipality took centre stage when the district hosted its Growth and Development Summit with key stakeholders on 12 and 13 July at Ncome Museum near Dundee.

    The summit brought together business, provincial government, state-owned entities and local municipalities to discuss important issues affecting the economy of this important district. Some of the key issues discussed included inclusive economic growth, human resource development within the district, and spatial equity and environmental sustainability.

    The event was attended by KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube who addressed the summit on the important role municipalities need to play in order to realise sustainable economic growth at local level.

    “We need our municipalities to find innovative ways to attract investors and platforms such as this summit allow for different stakeholders to engage on a variety of developmental issues impacting this specific district,” said Dube-Ncube.

    The MEC also touched on the importance of municipalities ensuring that their infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water and sanitation is properly maintained so that they can attract investors.

    “The potholes we see on our roads are a deterrent to investors because they paint a negative picture of municipalities in terms of governance and their ability to respond to issues. It is in the interest of our municipalities that we enforce by-laws and policies to better address challenges affecting ratepayers,” said Dube-Ncube.

    The MEC after speaking at the Summit visited one of the landmark projects in the District that cost R120 million and will provide water to 3000 households in the the communities of Sibongile, Keats Drift and kwaJama eNtinini these communities are under the Msinga, Mvoti and Nquthu local Municipalities.

    Ends.

  • KZNCOGTA strikes gold at annual Premier’s Excellence Awards

    KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) came out of the 2018 Premier’s Excellence Awards as the Best Provincial Department. This is in addition to the Cogta team’s Silver for the Best Innovator of the Year and Mr Thando Tubane’s Bronze for the Best Head of Department in KZN.

    “These are fantastic achievements that fill every member of the Cogta team with pride. These awards also serve to motivate us to do even better in serving our municipalities and communities in our various capacities. Well done and let us keep it up!” – said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

    KZN Cogta’s performance in the annual Premier’s Excellence Awards has been consistently impressive but coming out as the Best Provincial Department in 2018 is particularly gratifying to all members of the management team as well as every single employee of the department.

    “It is clear that these accolades would not have materialised without our staff’s dedication to the department and the job at hand in supporting municipalities and traditional institutions in KZN. We appreciate every bit of contribution towards this achievement from every single member of this department,” said Dube-Ncube.

    Ends

  • Water to flow for kwaNokweja and eMazebekweni communities

    The MEC FOR KZN Cogta, the Honourable Nomusa Dube-Ncube has assured the community of KwaNokweja and eMazabekweni in the Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality under the Harry Gwala District Municipality, that before the end of this month, they will definitely have access to clean water. This after the MEC met with the communities last month where they urged government to move with speed to provide clean water.

    “This is good news indeed and we are very happy that since we have met with the communities a lot of work has been done. We made an undertaking to them to the effect that we will come and report to them with regard to numerous development grievances they brought to our attention. As we speak water has been already pumped to all reservoirs and pumps have been repaired, a clear indication that we are only left with few loose ends to tie. The water scheme servicing this area was immensely hampered mainly by illegal connections that reduced pressure resulting to water not flowing at all from the taps’’ said Dube-Ncube.

    The water scheme is going to ensure that 3000 households have got access to clean water. More than R40 million have been invested in it. Currently, water is provided by water tankers as a temporary measure.

    Dube-Ncube, also told the youth in the area that her department has already secured funds to build an outdoor gym.

    “We have got a number of our young people that are unemployed in this area and there are no facilities that could keep them busy and stay away from drugs. This outdoor gym is not going to only keep young people occupied but it will also improve their health. Now it’s a matter of the community guiding us as to where this gym is going to be built. We are also going to provide them with kits for various sport codes’. We are also looking into upgrading sporting facilities in the area that would see our young people exposing their talent” said Dube-Ncube.

    Dube-Ncube urged the community to refrain from embarking on violent service delivery protests that usually result to roads being blockaded preventing free movement in the community. Other MEC’s assured the community that all their grievances ranging from housing to decent road infrastructure are being attended to.

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

     

    Date: 09 July 2018

    Ends.