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Having more women in leadership positions is more important than ever

This was one of the many sentiments shared by the panellists in the Women in Local Government and Traditional Leadership Dialogue which was hosted by KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Sipho Hlomuka, at the KZN Training Academy on 31st of August 2021.

Amongst the esteemed guests were the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development Mr Ronald Lamola, who delivered the keynote address, the Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, the Deputy Chairperson of the KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders Inkosi PT Zulu, Chairperson of Sports and Recreation Portfolio Committee Ms Amanda Bani-Mapena and the Mayor of the uBuhlebezwe local municipality Cllr EB Ngubo.

The dialogue, which was attended by female mayors, deputy mayors, speakers and amakhosi, focused on challenges affecting women in local government and the traditional leadership institution in the province.

The panellists also highlighted the necessity of gender balance in eadership roles as the province and country prepare for local government elections.

Speaking in this dialogue, MEC Hlomuka expressed his delight in the department’s efforts in ensuring that women are not oppressed.

“We pride ourselves in the progress we have made in recognising the contribution our women make in the public life of our province. We actively support women empowerment through capacitating women in local government and traditional institutions. We are also proud to mention that more than 60% of management positions in our Department are occupied by women”, said Hlomuka.

Minister Lamola also voiced his concern about the rising crime rate and urged the guests, who are leaders at the grassroots level, to aid security clusters in battling crime.

“When discussing the change of the judiciary, we must also consider the racial and gender diversity of judges, as well as the competence of other key actors in the value chain. Furthermore, as women in positions of leadership on the ground, you must join and support us as the justice and security cluster in combating our communities’ alarming crime rate,” urged Lamola.

The programme concluded with a candlelight item to honour all the women who have lost their lives through gender-based violence. Women were encouraged to seek support and speak out against any form of gender-based.

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The provision of services such as water and electricity in the rural municipality of Msinga received a major boost this morning when the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka officially handed over the eMzweni Electrification project in Ward 2 and the eMakhamo borehole project in Ward 3.

A resident of the area Zanele Sangweni, could not contain her joy when MEC Hlomuka officially handed over the borehole to her community, who previously had to walk long distances to access water. “We are thrilled to now have access to drinking water within the reach of our homes. We used to make long arduous trips to get water, we are happy now that water is closer to us” said Sangweni.

The launch of the borehole is a culmination of efforts made by the department of Cogta, which saw it invest millions of rands into borehole projects within the uMzinyathi District, to bring water to close to the communities of uMsinga. 

“The area of Msinga has a dire shortage of water and our visit today, to hand over this borehole to the community is an important milestone in our efforts. While boreholes are not a long term solution, they are better than water tankering and will give the District room to bring other water schemes on board to alleviate the water shortages within the community of Msinga” said Hlomuka. 

Through the investment made by the department, 20 solar-powered production boreholes have been drilled in the District. Out of this number six boreholes have been done in Msinga, in the areas of Bahulazi Village(ward 16), eMakhamo ward 3, Mbabane ward 5, Rockerdrift ward 12, Ndaya ward 13, Mngeni and Ngubukazi in Ward 16.

“As the provincial government, we are continuing to work with the Mzinyathi District to ensure that all the grants they receive for water projects are utilised” adds Hlomuka.

As part of this visit, MEC Hlomuka also visited the community of eMzweni where he officially conducted a switch-on of the electrification project which will benefit close to 100 households. The community of eMzweni did not have electricity before and the R1.5 million project brings the modern-day conveniences of electricity to the rural households of the area. 

One of the beneficiaries of the project, Mamayi Buthelezi (57) says that the electrification project has brought much hope to them. “We felt abandoned in all this time when we did not have electricity, the intervention by the MEC Hlomuka has transformed our lives as we now have access to electricity as a result of the department’s intervention. We are grateful for this” said a happy Buthelezi. 

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As a way of lending a helping hand to the destitute members of the community around eThekwini, the department hosted a Social Partnership Engagement Programme on Saturday, 21 August 2021 at Mnini Thusong Centre.

This was made possible by the strong partnership fostered by the Public Participation chief directorate under the leadership of the Acting DDG Local Government Ms Funi Makhanya with social partners on behalf of the department.

Touched by this outstanding initiative led by the department, other members of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council, MEC for Transport Ms Peggy Nkonyeni and the MEC for Human Settlements also participated in the day’s programme.

As a highlight of all spheres of government working towards one common goal, the Speaker of eThekwini Ms Weziwe Thusi as well as other local and traditional leaders took part in the programme.

To kickstart the day’s proceedings, the Principals were joined by women when they led a march to raise awareness and call for an end to the abuse of women and children.

The fight against gender-based violence remains one of the government’s key and crucial programmes. The relief programme was targeted at households that are in dire need as a result of the recent public unrest that impacted large parts of the eThekwini metro where billions of rands worth of private and public infrastructure were damaged.

Through the relief programme, 300 women-headed households benefitted from donations of groceries. Social partners included SANTACO, Icebolethu Foundation, eThekwini Metro as well the city’s Biker Community. In addition to the 300 women-headed households which benefitted from donations of groceries, a total of 7 sewing machines were handed over to a woman-owned company that manufactures taxi seat covers.

The women were identified by SANTACO through its Women’s Desk which ensures that widows of taxi owners are absorbed into the business and continue to provide for their families. Delivering the keynote address, the MEC for Transport Ms Peggy Nkonyeni applauded COGTA for engaging in the social partnership programme. She also encouraged women to venture into viable initiatives to boost their economic stability.

“The government presents a lot of business opportunities for women to upskill themselves in the business industry and you should grab them with both hands to take care of yourselves and your families,” said Nkonyeni.

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In line with his commitment to “make local government work better for the people of the province”, KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has applauded the good work of the staff within his department, following the announcement by the Auditor-General that KZN Cogta achieved a second consecutive clean audit for the 2020/2021 financial year. 

Hlomuka believes that the latest clean audit is a reflection on the commitment the department’s HOD, Mr Thando Tubane, and staff have towards ensuring that every cent that is allocated to the department is utilised in a manner that is optimal and benefits the people of the province. 

“As a department that exercises oversight over the institution of traditional leadership and the sphere of local government, we strongly believe that we have to lead by example in showing our municipalities that it is possible to achieve a clean audit and implement systems of governance that ensure that taxpayers’ monies are accounted for and utilised in a transparent manner that meets the stringent requirements of the Auditor-General,” said Hlomuka. 

Speaking about the achievement of the clean audit, HOD Tubane, thanked MEC Hlomuka for the political leadership that he continues to provide in the department, which has ensured that a conducive environment for innovation, excellence is created and maintained. 

Issued by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has expressed his concern about the growth in consumer debt in the province’s municipalities. 

The latest audited figures released by the Cogta indicate that the province’s municipalities saw an increase in consumer debt of R3.47-billion betweeb the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial years: the debt grew from R23.8-billion to R27.2-billion during this period, which represents a 14.45% increase.  

The increase, according to Hlomuka, is partly due to economic conditions that have deteriorated as a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus which has seen households and businesses across the province struggling to pay for municipal services. 

Hlomuka believes that the increase in the consumer debt in municipalities places them in a precarious position as they have to continue to provide essential services, such as waste removal, water, electricity and sanitation, in an environment of reduced revenue. 

“We are concerned about the increase in consumer debt and, as a department, we are rolling out measures that are aimed at assisting municipalities in the recovery of debt owed by their consumers,” said Hlomuka.

These measures include: 

• Supporting municipalities with the reduction in consumer debt through active citizen participation; 
• Indigent support in reconciling registers with Operation Sukuma Sakhe and debtor’s data at selected municipalities; 
• Reconciliation of municipal billing data with debtor’s data, indigent data and the valuation rolls; and 
• Focussed support on government debt through engagement and facilitation in resolving disputes towards payment across government departments and municipalities.

Hlomuka has also commended municipalities that are proactively dealing with consumer debt by providing debt relief to consumers by getting them to commit to a payment plan with the affected municipality then writing off the interest.

Cogta has further identified the following municipalities for support, specifically, in consumer debt relief during the 2021/2022 financial year:

• Newcastle, Jozini, Umdoni, Nkandla, Ubuhlebezwe, Alfred Duma, Endumeni, Abaqulusi, Umngeni and Mandeni.

This support will entail crafting a consumer debt recovery plan with the respective municipalities and support with the implementation and monitoring thereof.

 Issued by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Mr Sipho Hlomuka has assured business, labour and civic organisations about his department’s commitment to assisting municipalities to speed up the spatial planning and development processes required to rebuild the province’s small towns that have been decimated by the unrest that hit large parts of the province last week.

Yesterday, the MEC joined the Minister for Cogta Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in a visit to the small towns of Bulwer and Donnybrook which are under the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality in the Midlands.

As part of the visit, the Minister and the MEC together with the Mayor of the Harry Gwala District Cllr Nxumalo and the Mayor of the NDZ Local Municipality Cllr Mncwabe engaged with stakeholders such as the local businesses, civic organisations and labour on a common approach that will be taken in the rebuilding of the towns.

In the town of Bulwer, a hardware shop survived and is in the process of being converted into a grocery store.

In her address to stakeholders, the Minister for Cogta assured them of the government’s commitment to restoring peace in communities that were affected by the unrest and to support municipalities and all stakeholders in dealing with the impact of the unrest. “As we set out to rebuild our towns we have to reimagine how we can improve on what they were” added Minister Dlamini-Zuma.

In his address to the stakeholders, MEC Hlomuka urged the municipality to speed up the processes of approving building plans once they are submitted. “It is important that our municipalities work closely with business to ensure that plans are timeously approved as this is the only way we can get our towns rebuilt. We have assigned senior officials from our Municipal Planning division which will assist municipalities in the rebuilding process and ensuring that all building plans comply with the relevant legislation” said Hlomuka.

MEC Hlomuka will be visiting the small towns across the province to get a first-hand account of the extent of the damage and the rebuilding efforts.

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The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Sipho Hlomuka has expressed his concern at the failure by the uMkhanyakude and eMadlangeni Councils to pass their respective budget as required by law.

According to section 25 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, municipalities have to approve their annual budget, including revenue–raising measures necessary to give effect to the budget by the 30th of June. 

According to section 25 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, municipalities have to approve their annual budget, including revenue–raising measures necessary to give effect to the budget by the 30th of June. 

The failure by the two councils threatens their ability to discharge their constitutional obligations of service delivery. 

The failure by the two councils threatens their ability to discharge their constitutional obligations of service delivery. 

The MEC has directed the Mayors of the two municipalities, which are already under Section 139(1)b intervention to explain the failure by the councils to approve the annual budget. 

 

The MEC will in line with section 26(1) of the MFMA, apprise the provincial executive of the appropriate measures to remedy the situation in terms of section 139(4) of the Constitution. 

MEC Hlomuka has emphasised that the department is committed to acting in the interest of the communities of eMadlangeni and uMkhanyakude who now face a serious risk of their municipalities unable to function.

According to the law withdrawals from the bank accounts of the two municipalities can only be done with the prior approval of the MEC for Finance.   

Issued by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs 

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Years of fetching water from unreliable supplies such as rivers and springs is now a thing of the past for the rural villages of Tholakele and KwaMpunzi in ward 5 of the eDumbe Local Municipality. This follows the official handover of boreholes by MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sipho Hlomuka who visited these villages of Friday, 25 June to inspect and handover the wind-powered boreholes.

This handover was a culmination of efforts by the department to provide a sustainable supply of water to the residents of the two villages. 

During the handover MEC Hlomuka encouraged residents to protect these boreholes from vandals and those who might seek to steal critical equipment operating the borehole. 

“We appeal to you as residents to be responsible for these boreholes. They are for your service and we appeal to you that you ensure that children do not fiddle with the mechanisms of this equipment. You also have a responsibility to ensure that you safeguard this source of water from criminals” said Hlomuka.

As part of this visit, MEC Hlomuka also handed over lightning conductors which were installed at strategic points with the communities of KwaMpunzi and Tholakele. 

These two villages have suffered immense harm as a result of lightning strikes which has cost human lives and livestock. 

The installation of the lightning conductors provides safety for villagers and their homes. 

One of the beneficiaries of these programme is 75 year old Samuel Dlongwane who household had been severely affected by lightning strikes in the area. 

“I am happy today that the government has installed lightning conductors in our area. We will now be able to feel safe whenever the weather conditions change” said Dlongwane. 

In this visit MEC Hlomuka was joined by the Mayor of the eDumbe Local Municipality Cllr Kunene, the Mayor of Uphongolo Local Municipality Cllr Mhlongo and Traditional Leaders.

The department of Cogta under the leadership of MEC Hlomuka continues to support government efforts to speed up access to water for rural communities.

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The former President of our Country Nelson Mandela is quoted as saying “It always seems impossible until is done” there are no words that can perfectly capture what the youth of 1976 faced in their stand against an unjust murderous regime.

The task that laid ahead of them when they said “enough is enough” would have been too daunting for any generation to face but with a determined spirit they took that valiant stand and paid the ultimate price, in what is now known as the 1976 uprising where hundreds of young people lost their lives and some were injured and suffered life altering injuries.

This year our country commemorates 45 years since that fateful day when these events occurred.

As we look back into our history we cannot but stand in awe at the bravery that was displayed by the young men and women who took a stand, that caused the whole world to take up and note the human rights abuses that were happening in our country at the hands of the apartheid government.

The bravery shown by that generation is something that the youth of today can learn from.

They were faced with insurmountable odds and used their voice and their feet to take a stand against an institution that had degraded them and their parents.

In the midst of all of this they were able to take a stand that would turn the history of our country.

The famed French author Franz Fanon once saud “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it”.

We can never doubt the generation of 1976 as they became the building blocks for the youth of today.

Their exploits show all of us what is possible when young people stand together in the pursuit of justice.

The youth of today, face the triple challenges that plague our country which are unemployment, inequality and poverty.

The challenges which are in part as a result our countries legacy, require all our young people to band together and to fully exploit every avenue available for them to take themselves and their families forward.

These triple challenges faced by our country have been exacerbated by the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, which has caused a severe economic fall-out.a

Thomas Paine, who is well known as one of the Founding Father of the United States is quoted saying “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”.  

I find these words to be apt for the challenges that our youth and country are faced with.

While our government continues to utlise utilise youth month to galvanise and focus energy towards youth empowerment and development. It is the responsibility of every young person to be enquisitive and enquire about what opportunities there are for young people.

The fourth industrial revolution is here and requires our young people to be at the centre of the latest trends that are taking the world by storm and bring with them ample opportunities.

It is for this reason that the department of Cogta, which I lead continues to invest in bursaries for young people, and youth empowerment programmes such as the EPWP Programme through which we have recruited 11 000 young people. Who are able to receive training and provide for their families. Similarly we have recruited 500 young people to be interns within our municipalities for a period of two years. These young people come from disciplines such as town planning, engineering, finance and many others which are regarded as scarce skills within local government.

The investment in these young people is yet another indication of our government’s commitment to our young people.

We also continue to provide ample opportunities for employment to young people within the departments own recruitment processes.

While these efforts might a drop in the ocean we strongly believe that this governments commitment to empowering the youth will never waver.

The provincial government’s commitment to procure goods and services from businesses owned by young people, as articulated by the Premier Hon Sihle Zikalala is evidence of the commitment we have to our young people.

To turn our situation around required commitment not only from government  but from all sectors of our society. The Business men and women have a vital role to play in ensuring that our young people getting opportunities to improve their level of skills.

As we commemorate youth month, let us all recommit ourselves to the struggle of young people. Their empowerment is our empowerment. On them rests the future of our great country, on them rests the hopes for a better South Africa.

I thank you. 

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs department has noted with concern a statement which was released by Ubumbano lweziNduna, which makes false allegations and defames it’s officials.

This move by this body which claims to be representing Izinduna within the province is viewed in a dim light by the department.

The institution of traditional leadership is an important pillar that promotes wellbeing within our communities. It is the glue that holds our communities together.

The false allegations that have been made by Ubumbano against senior officials of the department including it’s Head of Department Mr Tando Tubane, the Deputy Director General for Traditional Affairs Mr Sikhumbuzo Gumede and the Chief Director for Traditional Institution Support Ms Princess Mtshali are mischievous and lack substance. 

The department has an open door policy and welcomes engagement with any member of our society. It does not wish to engage any particular stakeholder through the media.

The department will also continue to promote and foster good relations with the Institution of traditional leadership through the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, which is a formally recognized structure which fully represents Amakhosi on any matter that affects the institution of traditional leadership within our province.

The department will not succumb to black mail attempts on its officials by groups such as Ubumbano lweziNduna.

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