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  • KZNCOGTA MEC ZIKALALA LEADS DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS IN MSUNDUZI FOLLOWING YESTERDAY’S HEAVY RAINS

    Inclement weather conditions continue to wreak havoc in our communities.

    This afternoon we joined leadership of the uMgungundlovu District and uMsunduzi Local Municipality, in leading mop-up operations in Ward 23, Peace Valley, where heavy rains caused the Msunduzi river to burst its banks and flood surrounding communities.

    We are grateful that no life was lost in this incident but are gravely concerned about the welfare of the communities that reside in areas that are deemed unsafe since they are prone to flooding and other weather-related incidents.

    The Community of Peace Valley bore the brunt of yesterday’s heavy rains with several households submerged in water, we wish to commend all stakeholders for their speedy response in the evacuation of the 35 families that were affected by the flooding to a nearby shelter.

    The impact of yesterday’s incident does not only stop in Peace Valley but other communities around Pietermaritzburg have also been affected and our teams are deployed to assess the extent of the damages in these areas.

    So far the exact number of people affected cannot be given as teams are still busy.

    The Provincial Disaster Management Centre will continue to work closely with the affected municipalities to ensure that relief is rolled out to communities that are affected.

    We also wish to warn our communities against building in low-lying areas that are near rivers, as this possess a great risk to them and their families.

    Our province is prone to weather-related incidents, especially during the spring and summer seasons. We all share a responsibility in ensuring that we heed the weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service so that we can protect ourselves and our families.

    We also strongly believe that it is now time for households located on riverbanks to consider relocating. Weather patterns have changed drastically and flooding is becoming more frequent and severe.

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

  • KZN COGTA MEC SIHLE ZIKALALA PLACES DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAMS ON ALERT AS INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS PERSIST ACROSS KZN

    Inclement weather conditions continue to face large parts of our province.

    We have received a weather warning from the South African Weather Service which indicates that disruptive rainfall can be expected in large parts of the province today.

    These weather conditions pose a risk to human life and threaten to cause a number of disruptions.

    We urge residents to exercise utmost caution and pay attention to this weather warning which indicates that disruptive rainfall could potentially lead to localised flooding in several areas.

    We urge our communities to heed this warning and to continue to be vigilant by exercising all the necessary precautions, especially those that relate to crossing rivers or flooded walkways.

    We also advise motorists not to speed and to pay caution to the conditions of the road as they may be slippery.

    As a Department, we have placed our disaster management teams on high alert, and they will be monitoring several areas that have been identified by the alert, as being at high risk because of the weather conditions.

    The following are the areas that are going to be impacted by the weather conditions: Abaqulusi, Alfred Duma – Indaka, Alfred Duma – Ladysmith, Big Five Hlabisa – Hlabisa, Big Five Hlabisa – Hluhluwe, Dannhauser, Dr N. Dlamini-Zuma – Underberg, eDumbe, eMadlangeni, Endumeni, Ethekwini, Greater Kokstad, Impendle, Ingwe, Inkosi Langalibalele – Escourt, Inkosi Langalibalele – Sobabili, Jozini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Mpofana Giants Castle, Mpofana – Mooi River, Msinga, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Ndwedwe, and Newcastle.

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

  • KZN COGTA MEC Sihle Zikalala calls for calm following reports of tremors in KZN

    The department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has noted reports by the public and a number of agencies on the minor earthquake that took place yesterday and this morning in parts of the province.

    The department has established contact with the Council for Geoscience which is a legislated body to determine the extent of tremors and potential impacts in the affected areas.

    The department is liaising with all disaster management teams in the Districts to assess whether there was any damage to infrastructure.

    So far no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

    We wish to call for calm amongst all communities.

    The disaster management machinery is monitoring the situation and will be available for deployment where necessary.

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

  • MEC ZIKALALA REMARKS AT SALGA KZN MEMBERS ASSEMBLY

    ADDRESS BY KWAZULU-NATAL COGTA MEC SIHLE ZIKALALA DURING THE SALGA KZN PROVINCIAL MEMBERS ASSEMBLY, UMFOLOZI CASINO, EMPANGENI, 04 NOVEMBER 2022 

    Programme Director, Cllr. DT Memela;

    MECs and MPLs in our midst;

    The Leadership of SALGA;

    Mayors and Councillors;

    Our Traditional Leaders Present;

    Esteemed Sponsors;

    Members of the Fourth Estate;

    Distinguished Guests;

    Ladies and Gentlemen;

    SALGA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND INSPIRE SERVICE DELIVERY

    It is an absolute joy and immense honour to join the KwaZulu-Natal SALGA Provincial Assembly taking place on the shores of the majestic and beautiful uMhlathuze.

    Established in November 1996, this prestigious body, the South African Local Government Association, has continued to champion the mandate of local government and has lived to its motto of “inspiring service delivery”.

    Given our history of racial segregation and spatial inequities, SALGA continues to play a crucial role in positioning the local sphere of government to achieve spatial justice, social cohesion, and sustainable development through its unrelenting focus on integrated management of space, economies as well as people.

    For nearly three decades, this autonomous organisation has successfully advanced the interests of local government, improved the profile of local government, and fought against encroachment within a vibrant framework of intergovernmental relations (IGR).

    We recognise, for instance, that it was throughSALGA’s efforts that the number of seats for local government delegates was expanded in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

    Thanks to your organisation and the NCOP, South Africa has now observed Local Government Week for a decade since 2012. 

    Your brainchild, Local Government Week, was initiated to foster shared responsibility for service delivery and to facilitate the coordination role between local government and other spheres of the state machinery. Through it, we are also able to advance the principles of subsidiarity with regard to powers and functions in the delivery of services within a differentiated model.

    Just like during the first local government week a decade ago, the government continues to use the week to pay attention to issues of alignment and coordination of planning and budgets between the three spheres of government. Today, this work is part of our daily mantra as we vigorously pursue it through the District Development Model (DDM) which is an anchor programme of the 6th Administration.

    It was also the government’s collaboration with SALGA that led to the introduction of wall-to-wall municipalities and the re-design of the local government system as a developmental agent envisaged by the White Paper on Local Government.

    This Assembly that you are holding once again underlines your interest and contribution to promoting the sector through knowledge sharing and building technical capacity to make local government truly impactful in changing the lives of communities.

    SALGA IN CONTEMPORARY SA STRUGGLES

    Compatriots, as COGTA, we wish to affirm our appreciation of SALGA’s voice with all the developments and evolution of local government.

    As we renew our country and fight wastage, incompetence, and corruption, we are pleased to know that SALGA remains an actor in the fight against corruption and poor service delivery.

    We are paying attention to your suggestions on building ideal municipalities, forging climate-resilient municipalities, and on our path to just energy transition. We appreciate the research you are conducting and the proposals you are making on improving water security, clean energy provision, uninterrupted electricity supply, and post-apartheid smart cities development. In this regard, please allow me to congratulate SALGA’s President, Cllr Bheke Stofile for being elected as one of the 5 Co-Presidents of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

    As South Africa comes to terms with the reality of coalition governments, we support the views expressed by SALGA through President Stofile that all efforts must be made to ensure that coalition governments do not result in communities struggling to receive quality services on time. We support him and SALGA on the need to make coalition agreements transparent. As KZN COGTA, we are already engaging the national government on how in KwaZulu-Natal we could implement SALGA’s suggestions on making coalition agreements transparent and inclusive within an agreed framework that prioritises the delivery of services.

    ON THE BROAD THEMES OF THE KZN SALGA ASSEMBLY

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Please allow me to commend the KwaZulu-Natal SALGA leadership for organising this successful gathering around several important themes. 

    We applaud you for reminding us through the choice of your subject matter and focus that local government touches people’s lives in more ways than one. All participants will be inspired and encouraged to expand the meaning of local government since it touches every facet of our lives.

    It is this assembly that has said that when we say local government is the coalface of service delivery, we are affirming that this sphere of government touches all avenues of our lives and far beyond the critical task of providing basic services like water, electricity, waste removal and decent sanitation.

    In this regard, it was pleasing to see SALGA also seize on the question of developing arts and sports infrastructure in communities. This is a correct approach, reminding us of the value of the arts, culture and sports in building social cohesion and positive social values. We cannot overemphasise the importance of this especially when our province and country face worrying levels of crime, substance abuse, and the scourge of gender-based violence. This thinking will help us go far in defeating social ills, advancing positive social values, and creating the model citizen of KwaZulu-Natal who frowns upon patriarchy, toxic masculinity, crime, and violence.

    We wish to pay tribute to SALGA’s role in supporting the youth of KwaZulu-Natal to be tech-savvy. This is in line with our provincial vision of making our province a leader in ICT development and innovation. In this vein, we recognise that in August, SALGA brought together various stakeholders and launched the first Inter-Municipal Technology and Innovation Hub. 

    As COGTA, we stand ready to support initiatives that will ensure that the youth of KwaZulu-Natal, especially those in our rural areas, are not left behind with all the developments associated with robotics, artificial intelligence, as well as the 4th Industrial Revolution. This is a programme that we have begun to support partly through the introduction of robotics in our foundation phase at schools as well as investing in Maths, Science, and Technology Schools. This is a task that can only be successfully executed through strong and sustainable partnerships with the private sector.

    We also commend you for ensuring that your discussions and presentations also do not leave behind our important and respected traditional leaders. As COGTA, we are keen to receive your report and recommendation on how collectively we can promote spatial planning that integrates traditional authorities. We are aware that you have explored, for instance, how working better with Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB), KwaZulu-Natal could unleash pro-poor rural development. We do not doubt that your proposals will receive greater support from the ITB as well as His Majesty the King who last week at Moses Mabhida Stadium spoke passionately on rural and economic development for KwaZulu-Natal.

    FIVE KEY PRIORITIES

    As the department of Cogta, we have identified five key areas that need us to work closely with SALGA and other like-minded organisations. 

    Stabilisation of the sphere of local government 

    The priority is for us to stabilise the sphere of local government within our province. The instances of intimidation and murder of public representatives and municipal workers are a blight on our province and demonstrate that there are forces that are hell-bent on compromising the sphere of local government at any cost. 

    We cannot allow these rogue elements to subvert the democratic gains that we have made within this space. Acts of criminality must be stamped out.

    We also understand that before any form of protection is given to a councillor or municipal official comprehensive risk assessments need to be done by the competent agency of the state which in this case is the South African Police Service, we have noted the concerns raised by municipalities on the issue of the slow turnaround in the conducting of these assessments and we commit ourselves to work closely with our police to expedite these processes. 

    Professionalization of local government

    The second issue is the professionalization of the sphere of local government within our province. This is an important issue which requires all of us to pay close attention to it, especially since local government is at the coal face of service delivery. 

    Our communities rely on the services rendered by municipalities, which means that a dysfunctional municipality has disastrous consequences for residents. 

    This also speaks to the calibre of people that become councillors, we need to have councillors who understand the seriousness of the position they occupy and the responsibilities that they carry. If this is not looked into, we run the risk of having the stature of our municipalities undermined and the public losing confidence. 

    Political parties also have a responsibility on this matter as they have a responsibility to ensure that criminals do not infiltrate their political systems and cause chaos at the local government level. 

    Building Capacity to deliver

    We have to help our municipalities to build their capacity to deliver service to our communities as outlined in the constitution. This is both a simple and a complex task, there are low-hanging fruits which our municipalities can deliver on however we do not wish for them to only focus on these low-hanging fruits but to see them also building their capacity to deal with complex issues which are of a strategic nature which show foresight and vision. 

    We cannot have our municipalities absent when we are talking about issues of the economy, electricity generation, and strategic partnerships with the private sector on creating new industries and protecting those that exist. 

    Community Participation: 

    The fourth issue is community participation. It is disheartening to see councillors not convening meetings with their respective communities to update them on the decisions that are being taken in the councils. 

    This leaves our communities poorer in terms of information and sometimes leads to protests as communities search for answers. This issue speaks to the issue we previously mentioned on the professionalization of local government, as we need councillors who know what it means to occupy these positions. 

    Mechanism to manage political competition

    My fifth point is that our municipalities must have systems that help them to manage the political competition. 

    While the area of local government is heavily contested terrain there should be areas of common interest and approach for political parties within the respective councils. 

    We say this because ultimately every councillor in the council represents the interest of the residents and there has to be collaboration on issues that strengthen accountability and protect the integrity of the institution. 

    Programme director, having outlined these steps that we believe will assist us to turn the situation around in our municipalities, we must add that if we are to succeed we need all stakeholders to work closely together and to share best practices, this is why gatherings like today’s are so important as we get a chance to cross-pollinate. 

    AREAS OF COLLABORATION WITH SALGA KZN

    As Cogta we look forward to working closely with SALGA KZN in the common areas of interest such as: 

    • Improving the provision of water in our municipalities. 
    • Improving spatial planning
    • The provision of service delivery through the District Development Model
    • Strengthening the effectiveness of the Masakhane Campaign which calls for residents, businesses and government to pay for municipal services. Those that fail to pay for these services are compromising the financial viability of municipalities and their ability to continue providing services.

    As a department, we have taken a tough stance on several issues, such as municipalities having unfunded budgets, which is a contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act. We have taken a principled decision that we will not condone such budgets and that municipalities will have to comply with the law and only pass funded budgets.

    We also have zero tolerance for the issue of employees having the relevant qualifications for the role they occupy within our municipalities. To this effect, we are roping in the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Public Service Commission as we have noticed several instances where people are appointed into positions for which they do not have the relevant qualifications. 

    We are also not comfortable with municipalities that have become employment agencies at the expense of delivery on their core mandate which is to bring services to our communities. We are of the view that municipalities should not spend more than 35% on staff wages, this is a healthy ratio and allows the municipality to dedicate 65% of its resources to expenditure on capital projects which is their core mandate. 

    Our municipalities must not be found taking over the functions of other provincial and national departments they have to invest in their core mandate in line with the resources that they have been given. 

    CONCLUSION:

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Let us answer the call to serve.

    On behalf of COGTA, we invite you all again to rise to the challenge of our day and contribute in the creation of the KwaZulu-Natal of our dreams

    In all that we do, let us be inspired by the aspirations of our people, in particular the poor and vulnerable of our land.

    We cannot afford to go to bed without concern or worry that many of our young people are without hope and languishing on our streets.

    We must not tolerate corruption, poor service delivery, and theft from the poor. Those that cheat the state, there must be consequences for them so that people understand that local government and the public service is not a refuge for thieves or those who drag their feet when they have to serve our communities.

    As COGTA, we pray that we all realise the huge responsibility that we carry in transforming society and restoring the dignity of our people.

    We dare not linger!

    It is in our hands!

    And may SALGA continue to inspire service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal!

    Asisukume sakhe iKwaZulu-Natal!

    I thank you!

    .

  • KZN Cogta MEC Sihle Zikalala saddened by Nongoma structural fire that killed 3 people.

    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

  • KZN Cogta MEC calls for urgent police action following the murder of Induna of Osuthu Traditional Council and three other people

    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

  • KZN Cogta MEC Zikalala encourages communities in Mkhanyakude to explore opportunities in Agriculture

    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

  • KZNCOGTA MEC Zikalala mourns the passing of Inkosi Mbhele of Nkandla

    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

  • Kzncogta MEC is concerned with allegations surrounding Councillors

    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 ALERT AS A SECOND WEATHER WARNING WAS ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN PART OF KZN

    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